Publications by authors named "Sydney Zimmerman"
Estradiol, the most potent and prevalent member of the estrogen class of steroid hormones and is expressed in both sexes. Functioning as a neuroactive steroid, it plays a crucial role in modulating neurotransmitter systems affecting neuronal circuits and brain functions including learning and memory, reward and sexual behaviors. These neurotransmitter systems encompass the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic signaling pathways.
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- Parkinson's disease (PD) is rapidly increasing globally, especially in industrialized regions, indicating potential environmental influences, specifically from pollutants like dieldrin, a pesticide.
- Research on mice reveals that exposure to dieldrin during development makes them more vulnerable to neuron damage and motor function deficits when exposed to α-synuclein, a protein linked to PD.
- The study shows that while dieldrin exposure increases dopamine release in certain brain areas affected by α-synuclein, it doesn't change VMAT2 activity, suggesting that early exposure to dieldrin may heighten the brain's response to neurodegeneration without obvious signs of damage.