Gender- and region-specific changes in estrogen signaling in aging rat brain mitochondria.

ABSTRACT: Recently epidemiological studies suggest females lose neuroprotection from neurodegenerative diseases as they go through menopause. It has been hypothesized that this neuroprotection is hormone-dependent. The current study characterized cell signaling molecules downstream of estrogen receptor beta that are known to play a role in memory, PKC, ERK, and connexin-43, in regions of the brain associated with memory decline in an attempt to elucidate significant changes that occur post-estrus. Total whole cell lysates were compared to isolated mitochondrial protein because mitochondrial function is known to be altered during aging. As hypothesized, protein concentrations differed depending on age, gender, and brain region. Additionally, many of these changes occurred within mitochondria but not

SUBMITTER: Evola CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6128413 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature