Effect of Estrogen on Hippocampal Single Unit Activity

海马体在记忆的形成中起着重要的作用。这一大脑区域的损伤与衰老过程中发现的记忆损伤有关。阿尔茨海默病和健忘症。研究表明，雌激素对这一大脑区域的解剖结构和活动有影响。该项目的主要目的是研究正常周期以及雌激素耗竭动物的放电模式的动力学。具体来说，我们将在一个熟悉的实验中检验(1)雌激素缺失（卵巢切除的女性）和雌激素替代对海马表征的影响；(2)大鼠在执行简单运动任务时，海马神经元放电模式的变化可能发生在自然发情周期中；(3)环境线索对自然循环动物海马位置细胞放电模式的影响。本研究的发现将对理解：(1)记忆形成的过程，(2)雌激素对衰老特别是绝经妇女的潜在治疗作用具有重要意义。

The hippocampus plays an important role in the formation of memories. Damage to this brain region is related to memory impairment found in aging., Alzheimer's Disease, and amnesia. It has been shown that estrogen has an effect on the anatomy and activity in this brain region. The main objective of the proposed project is to investigate the dynamics of the firing patterns of normally cycling as well as in estrogen depletion animals. Specifically, we will examine (1) the effects of the absence of estrogen (ovariectomized females) and estrogen replacement on the hippocampal representation in a familiar experiment; (2) changes in firing patterns of hippocampal neurons that may occur across the rat's natural estrous cycle, while performing a simple motor tasks; (3) the influence of environmental cues on the firing patterns of hippocampal place cells on a more complex tasks that assesses working memory ability in naturally cycling animals. The findings from the present study will have important implications for understanding: (1) the process in which memories are formed, (2) potential therapeutic effects of estrogen in aging especially in menopausal women.