Modulation of hippocampal structure and function by ovarian hormones
Neuroscience Seminar Series

Abstract:
Hormones have a powerful effect on neuronal plasticity, particularly in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory consolidation and spatial cognition. Previous in vitro work has found that the ovarian hormone estradiol triggers second messenger cascades, driving synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. In particular, estradiol has been found to drive a striking proliferation of dendritic spines, the primary sites of excitatory synaptic connections. However, due to the challenge of tracking the structural and functional properties of hippocampal neurons in intact mice, the effect of naturally occurring ovarian hormone fluctuations on neural plasticity and function is poorly understood. To address this challenge, we took advantage of new approaches for longitudinal two-photon imaging in the hippocampus of behaving mice using implanted microprisms. We used this approach to measure changes in neuronal morphology, dendritic processing, and spatial coding in hippocampal neurons throughout the estrous cycle, as well as during pregnancy. Our results indicate that natural endocrine events profoundly modulate morphological plasticity, dendritic integration, and population coding of the spatial environment.

About the Speaker:
Michael Goard completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience with Professor Yang Dan at UC Berkeley and his postdoctoral fellowship with Professor Mriganka Sur at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He joined the faculty of UC Santa Barbara in 2016, where he is an Associate Professor in Neuroscience and Associate Director of the Neuroscience Research Institute. His lab investigates the neural circuitry underlying our ability to perceive, process, and store visual and spatial information.

Contact

  Grayson Sipe
  gsipe@psu.edu