Epigenetic regulation of estrogen-dependent memory. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014 Oct;35(4):530-49
Date
06/01/2014Pubmed ID
24878494Pubmed Central ID
PMC4174980DOI
10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.05.001Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84908160222 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 55 CitationsAbstract
Hippocampal memory formation is highly regulated by post-translational histone modifications and DNA methylation. Accordingly, these epigenetic processes play a major role in the effects of modulatory factors, such as sex steroid hormones, on hippocampal memory. Our laboratory recently demonstrated that the ability of the potent estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2) to enhance hippocampal-dependent novel object recognition memory in ovariectomized female mice requires ERK-dependent histone H3 acetylation and DNA methylation in the dorsal hippocampus. Although these data provide valuable insight into the chromatin modifications that mediate the memory-enhancing effects of E2, epigenetic regulation of gene expression is enormously complex. Therefore, more research is needed to fully understand how E2 and other hormones employ epigenetic alterations to shape behavior. This review discusses the epigenetic alterations shown thus far to regulate hippocampal memory, briefly reviews the effects of E2 on hippocampal function, and describes in detail our work on epigenetic regulation of estrogenic memory enhancement.
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
AnimalsDNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic
Estradiol
Estrogens
Hippocampus
Humans
Memory
