We study anti-aging effects of estrogen and androgen, which are synthesized in the brain hippocampus, by analyzing modulation of synaptic plasticity. Aging decreases the level of hippocampal estrogen and androgen, thereby decreases synapses. Sex Hormone Replacement can reverse these synapse degenerations. We are analyzing molecular mechanisms of Hormone Replacement-induced synapse regeneration. Particularly, we are interested in rapid non-genomic function of hippocampus-derived estrogen and androgen via synaptic ER and AR receptors, followed by kinase activation and .actin polymerization in synapses. We use super-resolution confocal microscopy in order to visualize 3D structure of synapses.
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Faculty of Pharma Sciences, Teikyo University
