2^nd International Meeting

STEROIDS AND NERVOUS SYSTEM

February 22-26, 2003 Villa Gualino,TORINO, Italy

Main Lectures

• M.J. Kelly (USA) Estrogen modulation of G protein-coupled receptor activation of potassium channels in the CNS

• M. McCarthy (USA) Estradiol modulation of astrocytes and the establishment of sex differences in the brain

• A. Arnold (USA) The role of the sex chromosomes in sexual differentiation of the brain and possible interactions with gonadal steroids

Symposia

GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND MINERALOCORTICOIDS: SYNTHESIS, MECHANISM OF ACTION AND EFFECTS

• M.C. Holmes (UK) 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in the brain: two enzymes, two roles

• F.L. Moore (USA) Structure and function of a membrane corticosteroid receptor

• P. Gass (Germany) Corticosteroid receptor transgenic mice: are they depressed or not?

• F. Holsboer (Germany) The corticosteroid receptor hypothesis of depression

• M. Joels (Netherland) Hippocampal function after chronic stress

PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATIONS AND NEW TOOLS IN THERAPEUTICAL APPROACHES

• Y.L. Hurd (Sweden) Estrogen receptor gene expression in relation to neuropsychiatric disorders

• B. Stoffel-Wagner (Germany) Neurosteroid metabolism in the human brain and its clinical implications

• J.W. Simpkins (USA) The use of estrogens and related compounds in the treatment of damage from cerebral ischemia

• D. Murphy (UK) The effect of oestrogen on brain ageing

• T. Backstrom (Sweden) Pathogenesis in menstrual cycle linked CNS-disorders

NON CLASSICAL MECHANISMS OF ACTION

• C. Beyer (Germany) The developing midbrain: a model to probe mechanisms of nonclassical estrogen action

• I. Merchentaler (USA) Neuroprotection by estrogen in global and focal ischemia

• J.G. Tasker (USA) Non-genomic glucocorticoid actions in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

• A.B. Brussaard (Netherlands) Conditional regulation of neurosteroid sensitivity of GABA_A receptors in oxytocin neurons during female reproductive cycle

• P. Guarneri (Italy) Neurosteroids in the retina: neurodegenerative and neuroprotective agents in retinal degeneration

STEROID REGULATION OF REPRODUCTION

• S. Moenter (USA) Steroid regulation of GnRH neurons

• I. Abraham (Hungary) Rapid effects of estrogen on GnRH neurons

• J.P. Bourguignon (Belgium) Estrogens and GnRH secretion in vitro throughout development

• C.L. Sisk (USA) Pubertal Maturation of the Brain and Reproductive Behavior: A recasting of behavioral potential

• A.M. Etgen (USA) Functional interactions between estrogen and insulin-like growth factor-I in the regulation of hypothalamic alpha1-adrenoceptor signaling and female reproductive function

GLIAL CELLS AS A TARGET FOR STEROIDS

• I. Azcoitia (Spain) Neuroactive Steroids and Neuroprotection

• M. Glaser (USA) Steroid Hormone Signaling between Schwann cells and Neurons that Regulates the Rate of Myelin Synthesis

• A.F. De Nicola (Argentina) Steroid effects on glial cells : detrimental or Protective for spinal cord function ?

• H. Carrer (Argentina) Neurotrophic factors and estradiol interact to control axogenic growth in hypothalamic neurons

• P. Drew (USA) Sex Steroid Regulation of Microglial Cell Activation: Relevance to Multiple Sclerosis

BEHAVIOURAL EFFECTS

• G. Ball (USA) Androgens, song behavior and seasonal neuroplasticity: where and how?

• J.D. Blaustein (USA) Progestin receptors: neuronal integrators of hormonal and genital stimulation

• J. Swann (USA) Hormonal regulation of behavior - a tale of two sexes.

• M. Hines (UK) Sex steroids and human behavior: prenatal androgen levels influence gender-typical behavior in childhood

• J. Bakker (Belgium) The aromatase knockout mouse provides new evidence that estradiol is required during development in females for a normal expression of socio-sexual behaviors in adulthood.