Hippocampus

• Conclusion:

  • the levels of estrogen and progesterone can affect the number of spines present within a select group of neurons within the hippocampus (CA1 region) of adult female rats

• Subsequent studies have shown that such changes in spine density also occur with the natural fluctuation in hormones that takes place during the estrus cycle.

  • high estrogen and progesterone levels = high spine density (late proestrus/early estrus)
  • low estrogen and progesterone levels = low spine density
  • these changes are occurring in adult female rats every four or five days

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