%A CHEN Lin，DU Li-jun，ZHAO Yu-nan
%T Glucocorticoids and Hippocampal Structural Plasticity
%0 Journal Article
%D 2011
%J ACTA NEUROPHARMACOLOGICA
%R 
%P 58-64
%V 1
%N 2
%U {http://actanp.hebeinu.edu.cn/CN/abstract/article_23.shtml}
%8 2011-04-26
%X Chronic high dose glucocorticoid exposure produces the major disruption to the hippocampal structural plasticity（such as plastic changes in spine and dendrite morphology, astrocyte as well as adult neurogenesis）, which can be reversed by anti-glucocorticoid therapy,indicating that glucocorticoids play a crucial role in chronic stress-induced impairment of hippocampal structural plasticity. Thus, one way to avoid the variable effects of stress exposure on animal behavior is developed by using exogenous corticosterone administration as a means to enhance efficiency and stability of animal model. Interestingly, short-term or acute glucocorticoid exposure has the ability to enhance structural plasticity, suggesting that the regulation of glucocorticoids on hippocampal structural plasticity is bidirectional.