The Role of Estradiol in the Development of Parvalbumin in the Prefrontal Cortex

Authors: Precious Alamu, Matthew Paul

SUNY Campus: SUNY Buffalo

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: UU 108

Presentation #: 78

Timeslot: Session C 1:45-2:45 PM

Abstract: Adolescence is a critical period marked by significant neural development, especially in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) which is crucial for social, emotional, and cognitive development. Deficits in PFC development can result in mental health disorders. During adolescence, there is an increase in parvalbumin (PV), a protein vital for PFC microcircuitry development and function. Increased gonadal hormones at puberty coincide with adolescence and are thought to influence PFC development. Furthermore, PV cells contain estrogen receptors, suggesting estradiol might facilitate adolescent increases in PFC PV. The present research tests this hypothesis: estradiol increases parvalbumin. Juvenile female Siberian hamsters were divided into three groups: ovariectomized and treated with estradiol, ovariectomized and given a vehicle capsule, and sham-operated and given a vehicle capsule (control animals). Two weeks later, hamsters were sacrificed, and brains were processed using immunohistochemistry to quantify PV in the PFC. It is predicted that estradiol treatment will increase PV, whereas ovariectomy will decrease PV, compared to controls.Determining estradiol's role in PV development will advance our understanding of PFC maturation and the potential impact of estrogen-disrupting chemicals on its development. This research is crucial for uncovering factors contributing to psychological and mood disorders that emerge during adolescence.