Endocrine Abstracts

11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD-1) is a key enzyme which amplifies intracellular levels of active glucocorticoids within specific tissues, including the brain. The hippocampus highly expresses both corticosteroid receptors and 11beta-HSD-1, making it a prime target for glucocorticoid actions. This brain region plays an important role in fear/anxiety behaviours and learning and memory. We examined the anxiety-related behaviours (elevated plus maze and ope...

Elevated cortisol in Cushing's syndrome or ageing is associated with cognitive dysfunction. 11beta-HSD1 is expressed in rodent hippocampus and frontal cortex, regions important for cognition. In cultured rat hippocampal neurons, 11beta-HSD1 regenerates corticosterone from inert 11-dehydrocorticosterone and its inhibition by carbenoxolone is neuroprotective. 11beta-HSD1 knockout mice are protected against age-related cognitive dysfunction. We hypothesised that in elderly humans...

(This poster is based on OC41)...