Modulation of neural gene networks by estradiol in old rhesus macaque females.

Rita Cervera-Juanes, Kip D Zimmerman, Larry Wilhelm, Dongqin Zhu, Jessica Bodie, Steven G Kohama, Henryk F Urbanski

Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA. [email protected]. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

The postmenopausal decrease in circulating estradiol (E2) levels has been shown to contribute to several adverse physiological and psychiatric effects. To elucidate the molecular effects of E2 on the brain, we examined differential gene expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns in the nonhuman primate brain following ovariectomy (Ov) and subsequent subcutaneous bioidentical E2 chronic treatment. We identified several dysregulated molecular networks, including MAPK signaling and dopaminergic synapse response, that are associated with ovariectomy and shared across two different brain areas, the occipital cortex (OC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). The finding that hypomethylation (p = 1.6 × 10

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Research summary

The paper investigates the molecular effects of estradiol on the brain in the context of aging, specifically focusing on gene expression and DNA methylation changes following ovariectomy in old rhesus macaque females. While it addresses a biological mechanism related to aging, it primarily explores the effects of hormone replacement rather than directly targeting the root causes of aging or lifespan extension. The findings contribute to understanding age-related changes in the brain but do not present a significant advancement in longevity research.

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