Cited by 33Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchEstrogen and related hormone effectsMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Gender and Neurosteroids: Implications for Brain Function, Neuroplasticity and Rehabilitation

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Raciti, Loredana, Formica, Caterina, Raciti, Gianfranco, Quartarone, Angelo, Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore·2023·International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Abstract

Neurosteroids are synthesized de novo in the nervous system; they mainly moderate neuronal excitability, and reach target cells via the extracellular pathway. The synthesis of neurosteroids occurs in peripheral tissues such as gonads tissues, liver, and skin; then, because of their high lipophilia, they cross the blood–brain barrier and are stored in the brain structure. Neurosteroidogenesis occurs in brain regions such as the cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala by enzymes necessary for the in situ synthesis of progesterone from cholesterol. Neurosteroids could be considered the main players in both sexual steroid-induced hippocampal synaptic plasticity and normal transmission in the hippocampus. Moreover, they show a double function of increasing spine density and enhancing long term potentiation, and have been related to the memory-enhancing effects of sexual steroids. Estrogen and progesterone affect neuronal plasticity differently in males and females, especially regarding changes in the structure and function of neurons in different regions of the brain. Estradiol administration in postmenopausal women allowed for improving cognitive performance, and the combination with aerobic motor exercise seems to enhance this effect. The paired association between rehabilitation and neurosteroids treatment could provide a boosting effect in order to promote neuroplasticity and therefore functional recovery in neurological patients. The aim of this review is to investigate the mechanisms of action of neurosteroids as well as their sex-dependent differences in brain function and their role in neuroplasticity and rehabilitation.

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  • This prediction is consistent with reported correlations between neurosteroids and a series of neurological disorders, including migraine, postpartum-depression, epilepsy, anxiety, cognitive and psychiatric disorders.

    “Such a prediction is consistent with reported correlations between neurosteroids and a series of neurological disorders, including migraine, postpartum-depression, epilepsy, anxiety, cognitive and psychiatric disorders [56,144,145].”

    From Fibromyalgia pathogenesis explained by a neuroendocrine multistable model (2024) · cites this paper as [145]

    Sections 5.1–5.3 link neurosteroids with epilepsy, migraine, anxiety, cognitive impairment, depression, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Section 5.3 discusses depression generally, but neither it nor the passages retrieved for “postpartum depression” identifies postpartum depression specifically. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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1 of the 126 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

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  1. [79]Bernardi F. Genazzani A.R. The brain: Target and source for sex steroid hormones Women’s Health and Menopause Springer Dordrecht, The Netherlands 1999 137 143

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Authors
Raciti, L., Formica, C., Raciti, G., Quartarone, A., & Calabrò, R. S.
Affiliations
Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo (IT)
Corresponding author
Formica, Caterina
Venue
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2023-03-01
Volume
24
Issue
5
Pages
4758
ISSN
1422-0067 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4322771326
Cited by
33
References
126
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 2
FWCI
1.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Ministry of Health
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
neurosteroids, sex differences, neurosteroidogenesis, hippocampal synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation, estrogen, progesterone, estradiol, postmenopausal women, cognitive performance, aerobic exercise, neuroplasticity, rehabilitation, neurological recovery, blood-brain barrier, neuronal excitability
MeSH terms
Neurosteroids, Brain, Female, Humans, Male, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Progesterone, Steroids

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