The modulation of the brain’s capacity for structural and functional reorganization—including synaptogenesis, dendritic branching, and neurogenesis—mediated by the action of circulating endocrine factors, notably steroid hormones and neuropeptides. Hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormone act as powerful neurotrophic agents, directly influencing the molecular machinery of neuronal growth and synaptic transmission. This process highlights the endocrine system’s profound and direct regulatory role in maintaining cognitive health and facilitating brain repair.
Origin
This concept is central to modern neuroendocrinology, a field that explicitly studies the reciprocal relationship between the endocrine system and the nervous system. The recognition that hormones are not merely peripheral regulators but essential modulators of brain structure and function emerged from research detailing receptor localization in the hippocampus and cortex. It provides a biological basis for the cognitive changes observed during life stages marked by hormonal flux.
Mechanism
Steroid hormones readily cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to intracellular receptors, acting as transcription factors to regulate the expression of genes crucial for neuronal health, including those for neurotransmitter receptors and growth factors like BDNF. For example, estrogen enhances synaptic density and dendritic spine formation in the hippocampus, directly supporting memory function. Thyroid hormones are essential for oligodendrocyte function and myelination, influencing the speed of neural communication and overall network efficiency.
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