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Female reproductive steroids and neuronal excitability

  • Migraine Pathophysiology
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Abstract

Oestrogen and progesterone have specific receptors in the central nervous system and are able to regulate neuronal development and plasticity, neuronal excitability, mitochondrial energy production, and neurotransmitter synthesis, release, and transport. On neuronal excitability, estradiol and progesterone seem to have an opposite effect, with estradiol being excitatory and progesterone and its derivative allopregnanolone being inhibitory. Estradiol augments N-methyl-d-aspartate-mediated glutamate receptor activity, while progesterone enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated chloride conductance. Sex steroid regulation of the balance of neuroexcitatory and neuroinhibitory activities may have a role in modulating clinical susceptibility to different neurological conditions such as migraine, catamenial epilepsy, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and premenstrual syndrome.

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The authors declare that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy

    C. Finocchi & M. Ferrari

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  1. C. Finocchi
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  2. M. Ferrari
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Correspondence to C. Finocchi.

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Finocchi, C., Ferrari, M. Female reproductive steroids and neuronal excitability. Neurol Sci 32 (Suppl 1), 31–35 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0532-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0532-5

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