Hippocampal Wnt Signaling: Memory Regulation and Hormone Interactions. Neuroscientist 2016 Jun;22(3):278-94
Date
02/27/2015Pubmed ID
25717070Pubmed Central ID
PMC7053425DOI
10.1177/1073858415574728Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84967153588 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 66 CitationsAbstract
Wnt signaling has emerged in recent years as a major player in both nervous system development and adult synaptic plasticity. Of particular relevance to researchers studying learning and memory, Wnt signaling is critical for normal functioning of the hippocampus, a brain region that is essential for many types of memory formation and whose dysfunction is implicated in numerous neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions. Impaired hippocampal Wnt signaling is implicated in several of these conditions, however, little is known about how Wnt signaling mediates hippocampal memory formation. This review will provide a general overview of Wnt signaling and discuss evidence demonstrating a key role for Wnt signaling in hippocampal memory formation in both normal and disease states. The regulation of Wnt signaling by ovarian sex steroid hormones will also be highlighted, given that the neuroprotection afforded by Wnt-hormone interactions may have significant implications for cognitive function in aging, neurodegenerative disease, and ischemic injury.
Author List
Fortress AM, Frick KMAuthor
Karyn Frick BA,MA,PhD Professor in the Psychology department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Alzheimer DiseaseAnimals
Estradiol
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Hippocampus
Humans
Memory
Neuronal Plasticity
Progesterone
Wnt Signaling Pathway
