17²-Estradiol Activates the Wnt/²-catenin Pathway in the Dorsal Hippocampus of Ovariectomized Female Mice
Mentor 1
Dr. Karyn Frick
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
28-4-2017 1:30 PM
End Date
28-4-2017 4:00 PM
Description
Females are more susceptible to age-related cognitive decline than males due to the loss of circulating estrogens at menopause. Understanding how estrogens regulate memory could provide beneficial information for creating new treatments for memory dysfunction. Within the dorsal hippocampus (DH), a brain region implicated in memory processes, the potent estrogen Estradiol mediates activation of several cell-signaling pathways. This activation is necessary for E2 to enhance memory consolidation in female rodents. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which regulates hippocampal development and synaptic plasticity, is necessary for memory consolidation. However, the extent to which E2 interacts with Wnt/β-catenin signaling to facilitate memory is not well understood. To characterize whether E2 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the DH, ovariectomized female mice were infused with vehicle or E2 into the DH, and the DH collected at various time points afterward. Using Western blotting to quantify changes in target Wnt/beta-catenin proteins and PCR to quantify changes in mRNA expression, we demonstrate that E2 can regulate aspects of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Future studies will explore these interactions by studying the effects of the Wnt inhibitor, Dkk-1 on protein levels and mRNA expression.
17²-Estradiol Activates the Wnt/²-catenin Pathway in the Dorsal Hippocampus of Ovariectomized Female Mice
Union Wisconsin Room
Females are more susceptible to age-related cognitive decline than males due to the loss of circulating estrogens at menopause. Understanding how estrogens regulate memory could provide beneficial information for creating new treatments for memory dysfunction. Within the dorsal hippocampus (DH), a brain region implicated in memory processes, the potent estrogen Estradiol mediates activation of several cell-signaling pathways. This activation is necessary for E2 to enhance memory consolidation in female rodents. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which regulates hippocampal development and synaptic plasticity, is necessary for memory consolidation. However, the extent to which E2 interacts with Wnt/β-catenin signaling to facilitate memory is not well understood. To characterize whether E2 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the DH, ovariectomized female mice were infused with vehicle or E2 into the DH, and the DH collected at various time points afterward. Using Western blotting to quantify changes in target Wnt/beta-catenin proteins and PCR to quantify changes in mRNA expression, we demonstrate that E2 can regulate aspects of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Future studies will explore these interactions by studying the effects of the Wnt inhibitor, Dkk-1 on protein levels and mRNA expression.
