Abstract Title:

Aromatase inhibitors induce spine synapse loss in the hippocampus of ovariectomized mice.

Abstract Source:

Endocrinology. 2010 Mar;151(3):1153-60. Epub 2010 Jan 22. PMID: 20097718

Abstract Author(s):

Lepu Zhou, Lars Fester, Breda von Blittersdorff, Basel Hassu, Henning Nogens, Janine Prange-Kiel, Hubertus Jarry, Karl Wegscheider, Gabriele M Rune

Article Affiliation:

Institute of Anatomy I, Cellular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.

Abstract:

Recently, inhibition of estrogen synthesis by aromatase inhibitors has become a favored therapy for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Estrogen is, however, important for synapse formation in the hippocampus. Inhibition of aromatase induces spine synapse loss in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. We therefore studied the effect of systemic treatment with the potent aromatase inhibitor letrozole on spine synapse formation and synaptic proteins in the hippocampi of female mice for periods of 7 d and 4 wk. In cyclic, letrozole-treated females and in ovariectomized, letrozole-treated females, the number of spine synapses was significantly reduced in the hippocampus but not in the prefrontal or cerebellar cortex. Consequently, the expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1 was significantly down-regulated after treatment with letrozole. In cyclic animals the expression of the synaptic proteins synaptophysin and spinophilin was down-regulated in response to letrozole. In ovariectomized animals, however, protein expression was down-regulated after 7 d of treatment, whereas the expression was up-regulated after 4 wk of treatment. Our results indicate that systemic inhibition of aromatase in mice affects structural synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. This may contribute to cognitive deficits in postmenopausal women treated with aromatase inhibitors.

Study Type : Animal Study

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