National Institute of Mental Health 1R01MH139931-01A1

Sex- and hormone-dependent differences in memory vulnerability to acute traumatic stress

Research project investigating sex and hormone influences on memory vulnerability to acute traumatic stress, focusing on estrogen receptors and sex-specific mechanisms in mice to understand trauma-related memory disturbances and potential prevention strategies.

Description

This proposal focuses on the fundamental sex differences in the vulnerability to acute traumatic stress (ATS) and the role of the sex hormone estrogen, and signaling via sex-specific hippocampal receptors, in the enduring memory problems that follow ATS. It aims to understand why ATS causes memory disturbances in male and proestrous female mice but not in estrous females, and to identify mechanisms involving estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ. The discoveries will illuminate mechanisms for sex differences in trauma vulnerability and offer targets for mitigation.

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