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Geschlecht und Effekte von Steroidhormonen im Zentralnervensystem (ZNS)

Gender and the effects of steroid hormones in the central nervous system

  • Leitthema
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz Aims and scope

Zusammenfassung

Häufiger Manifestationsort von degenerativen Erkrankungen des Zentralnervensystems (ZNS), die bei Männern und Frauen mit einer unterschiedlichen Inzidenz bzw. Prävalenz auftreten, ist der Hippokampus. Neurosteroide sind Steroidhormone, die im ZNS synthetisiert werden und auch dort ihre Wirkung entfalten. Zu ihnen zählen die Sexualsteroide Östrogen und Testosteron. Der Hippokampus ist ein Hirnareal, das eng mit Lernen und Gedächtnis assoziiert ist. Im weiblichen, aber nicht im männlichen Hippokampus ist die lokale Synthese von Östrogen essenziell für die Plastizität und Stabilität von Synapsen. Die Hemmung der Östrogensynthese im weiblichen Hippokampus zieht eine reduzierte Langzeitpotenzierung (LTP), die ein elektrophysiologischer Parameter für Lernen und Gedächtnis ist, und in der Folge einen signifikanten Synapsenverlust nach sich. Vor dem Hintergrund, dass für Östrogene zahlreiche protektive Funktionen bei degenerativen ZNS-Erkrankungen nachgewiesen worden sind, ergibt sich, dass therapeutische Konzepte mit Östrogeneinsatz möglicherweise nur bei Frauen, aber nicht bei Männern greifen. Gleichermaßen bieten diese Befunde eine Grundlage zur Erklärung der beobachteten Geschlechterdimorphismen bei vielen degenerativen ZNS-Erkrankungen.

Abstract

Degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, the incidence and prevalence of which vary between men and women, often manifest in the hippocampus. Neurosteroids are hormones that are synthesized in the CNS, and it is here that they exert their influence. Estrogen and testosterone are examples of neurosteroid hormones. In the hippocampus, an area of the brain closely associated with learning and memory, the local synthesis of estrogen in females, but not in males, is essential for the plasticity and stability of the synapses. The inhibition of estrogen synthesis in the female hippocampus causes a reduction in long-term potentiation (LTP), an electrophysiological parameter of learning and memory, thus resulting in a significant loss of synapses. In light of this, the fact that estrogen has been attributed with many neuroprotective functions in degenerative diseases of the CNS suggests that therapeutic concepts involving the use of estrogen are possibly only effective in women, but not in men. These findings similarly provide a basis for explaining the gender dimorphism that has been found in certain degenerative illnesses of the CNS.

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Einhaltung ethischer Richtlinien

Interessenkonflikt

N. Brandt, R. Vierk, L. Fester, L. Zhou, P. Imholz und G. M. Rune geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Dieser Beitrag beinhaltet keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Neuroanatomie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland

    N. Brandt, R. Vierk, L. Fester, L. Zhou, P. Imholz &  G. M. Rune

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  1. N. Brandt
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  2. R. Vierk
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  3. L. Fester
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  4. L. Zhou
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Correspondence to G. M. Rune.

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Brandt, N., Vierk, R., Fester, L. et al. Geschlecht und Effekte von Steroidhormonen im Zentralnervensystem (ZNS). Bundesgesundheitsbl. 57, 1054–1060 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-014-2014-4

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