Short- and long-term treatment with estradiol or progesterone modifies the expression of GFAP, MAP2 and Tau in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

Abstract

AimsWe analyzed the effects of the short- and long-term administration of estradiol (E2) or progesterone (P4) after ovariectomy on the expression of MAP2, Tau and GFAP in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Main methodsSprague Dawley rats were ovariectomized and immediately treated with E2 or P4 for 2 or 18weeks. At the end of treatments, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were excised, proteins were extracted and MAP2, Tau and GFAP were analyzed by Western blot. Key findingsMAP2 and Tau content was not modified by E2 in the prefrontal cortex. On the contrary, P4 decreased MAP2 content after a short-term treatment, while it increased that of MAP2 and TAU in this brain region after a long-term treatment. E2 increased MAP2 content in hippocampus. In this region, short-term administration of P4 increased that of MAP2. GFAP content was diminished after a long-term administration of P4 in hippocampus. SignificanceCurrent data emphasize the importance of short- and long-term sex steroid treatment on neuronal and glial cytoskeletal proteins expression.