Department of Reproductive Medicine and Child Development, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012 Mar;28 Suppl 1:2-4. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2012.651934.
Sex steroids exert actions of paramount importance on brain cells. They contribute to shape the central nervous system during embryo development. They modulate the formation and the turnover of the interconnections between neurons. They control the function of glial cells. And they do it through a signaling machinery that is apparently simple, but that hides a level of complexity that has been unveiled only in part. Different receptor isoforms, different interactions between receptors and co-regulators, chains of events originating at the cell membrane and leading to effects in the nucleus (or the other way around) all interact to determine selective modulations of brain cells. All these actions end up in phenomenal effects on brain function that change through adolescence, pregnancy, adulthood, up to menopause and ageing. Many of these actions are relevant for degenerative processes and research may offer soon new strategies to counteract these diseases.
性激素对脑细胞有至关重要的作用。它们有助于在胚胎发育过程中塑造中枢神经系统。它们调节神经元之间连接的形成和更替。它们控制神经胶质细胞的功能。它们通过一种信号机制来实现这一切，这种信号机制表面上很简单，但隐藏着一定程度的复杂性，而这种复杂性只是部分被揭示。不同的受体亚型、受体和共调节剂之间的不同相互作用、起源于细胞膜并导致核内效应（或相反）的一系列事件，都相互作用以确定对脑细胞的选择性调节。所有这些作用最终导致大脑功能的显著变化，这些变化会在青春期、怀孕期、成年期、直到更年期和衰老期发生。其中许多作用与退行性过程有关，研究可能很快会提供新的策略来对抗这些疾病。
