Synaptopodin is regulated by aromatase activity

TY - JOUR

T1 - Synaptopodin is regulated by aromatase activity

AU - Fester, Lars

AU - Zhou, Lepu

AU - Ossig, Christiana

AU - Labitzke, Jan

AU - Bläute, Corinna

AU - Bader, Manuela

AU - Vollmer, Günter

AU - Jarry, Hubertus

AU - Rune, Gabriele M

N1 - © 2016 International Society for Neurochemistry.

PY - 2017/1

Y1 - 2017/1

N2 - Locally synthesized estradiol plays an important role in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. We have previously shown that in hippocampal neurons, activity of the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone into estradiol, is reduced via Ca(2+) -dependent phosphorylation. Synaptopodin is a highly estrogen responsive protein, and it has been shown that it is an important regulator of synaptic plasticity, mediated by its close association with internal calcium stores. In this study, we show that the expression of synaptopodin is stronger in the hippocampus of female animals than in that of male animals. Phosphorylation of aromatase, using letrozole, however, down-regulates synaptopodin immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus of both male and females. Similarly, in aromatase knock-out mice synaptopodin expression in the hippocampus is reduced sex independently. Using primary-dissociated hippocampal neurons, we found that evoked release of Ca(2+) from internal stores down-regulates aromatase activity, which is paralleled by reduced expression of synaptopodin. Opposite effects were achieved after inhibition of the release. Calcium-dependent regulation of synaptopodin expression was abolished when the control of aromatase activity by the Ca(2+) transients was disrupted. Our data suggest that the regulation of aromatase activity by Ca(2+) transients in neurons contributes to synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of male and female animals as an on-site regulatory mechanism.

AB - Locally synthesized estradiol plays an important role in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. We have previously shown that in hippocampal neurons, activity of the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone into estradiol, is reduced via Ca(2+) -dependent phosphorylation. Synaptopodin is a highly estrogen responsive protein, and it has been shown that it is an important regulator of synaptic plasticity, mediated by its close association with internal calcium stores. In this study, we show that the expression of synaptopodin is stronger in the hippocampus of female animals than in that of male animals. Phosphorylation of aromatase, using letrozole, however, down-regulates synaptopodin immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus of both male and females. Similarly, in aromatase knock-out mice synaptopodin expression in the hippocampus is reduced sex independently. Using primary-dissociated hippocampal neurons, we found that evoked release of Ca(2+) from internal stores down-regulates aromatase activity, which is paralleled by reduced expression of synaptopodin. Opposite effects were achieved after inhibition of the release. Calcium-dependent regulation of synaptopodin expression was abolished when the control of aromatase activity by the Ca(2+) transients was disrupted. Our data suggest that the regulation of aromatase activity by Ca(2+) transients in neurons contributes to synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of male and female animals as an on-site regulatory mechanism.

U2 - 10.1111/jnc.13889

DO - 10.1111/jnc.13889

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 27861893

VL - 140

SP - 126

EP - 139

JO - J NEUROCHEM

JF - J NEUROCHEM

SN - 0022-3042

IS - 1

ER -