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Publication Date

2022-05-09

First Advisor

Lisa A. Mangiamele

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Neuroscience

Keywords

Estrogen, Estradiol, GPR30, GPER1, Rapid effects, Social behavior, Social approach, Zebrafish, Social preference, Social recognition, Learning and memory, Nongenomic signaling

Abstract

Estrogens are steroid hormones that play a role in facilitating various physiological processes and behaviors in both females and males. Estrogens are typically known to exert long term effects over periods of hours to days via the classical estrogen signaling mechanism. In this pathway, 17-β estradiol (E2), the most active estrogen, binds intracellular estrogen receptors (ER) α or β. Once activated, ER α and β change conformation to dimerize and translocate to the nucleus where they directly regulate gene transcription by binding estrogen response elements. Classical ERs can also act via nongenomic mechanisms initiated at the cell membrane through signaling cascades which release calcium stores and activate protein kinases. These protein kinases subsequently phosphorylate transcription factors to indirectly impact gene expression. The more recently discovered, membrane-bound G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30, also known as GPER1) is thought to primarily act through nongenomic mechanisms. Current research is investigating how GPR30 may collaborate with or even modulate the classical intracellular ERs in the brain to produce behavioral effects.

Rights

©2022 Rachel Hantz. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

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