Neuroendocrinology of the climacteric period and hormonal replacement therapy

Sex-steroid hormones exert relevant functions in the central nervous system (CNS), controlling the reproductive function and modulating a woman’s general psychophysical well-being. These actions occur through specific receptors for estrogens, progestogen and androgens. Receptors for sex hormones have been demonstrated in the cortex, limbic system, hippocampus, cerebellum, locus ceruleus, hypothalamus, preoptic area and amygdala 1 , 2 . In fact, in the CNS genomic effects of ovarian steroids through specific binding with intracellular receptors have been described. However, recently non-genomic effects have been demonstrated in experimental studies on female rats. Estrogens are able to modulate neuron activity, stimulating dendritic growth, synaptic junction formation, neuronal plasticity and neurotransmission 1–3 .