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Corticosteroids in the brain

Cellular and molecular actions

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Abstract

The rat adrenal hormone corticosterone reaches the brain and binds to intracellular receptors. These receptors comprise high-affinity mineralocorticoid and lower-affinity glucocorticoid receptors that, upon activation, affect the transcription rate of specific genes. The two receptor types are discretely localized in the brain, with particularly high expression levels in the hippocampus. Here we review recent studies showing that electrical properties and structural aspects of hippocampal principal neurons are specifically regulated by mineralocorticoid- or glucocorticoid-receptor activation. The molecular mechanisms by which these cellular effects could be accomplished are discussed.

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  1. Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam, Institute for Neurobiology, The Netherlands

    Marian JoËls

  2. Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden Amsterdam Center of Drug Research, The Netherlands

    Erno Vreugdenhil

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  1. Marian JoËls
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JoËls, M., Vreugdenhil, E. Corticosteroids in the brain. Mol Neurobiol 17, 87–108 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802026

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