Modulation of hippocampal spine dynamics, dendritic processing, and spatial coding by ovarian hormones

Dr. Michael Goard is an assistant professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Hormones have a powerful effect on neuronal plasticity, particularly in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory consolidation and spatial cognition. Previous in vitro work has found that the ovarian hormone estradiol triggers second messenger cascades, driving synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. In particular, estradiol has been found to drive a striking proliferation of dendritic spines, the primary sites of excitatory synaptic connections. However, due to the challenge of tracking the structural and functional properties of hippocampal neurons in intact mice, the effect of naturally occurring ovarian hormone fluctuations on neural plasticity and function is poorly understood. To address this challenge, we took advantage of new approaches for longitudinal two-photon imaging in the hippocampus of behaving mice using implanted microprisms. We used this approach to measure changes in neuronal morphology, dendritic processing, and spatial coding in hippocampal neurons throughout the estrous cycle, as well as during pregnancy. Our results indicate that natural endocrine events profoundly modulate morphological plasticity, dendritic integration, and population coding of the spatial environment.

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Hosted by Dr. Xuexin Wei

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