Note: Intro -- Hormones in Neurodegeneration, Neuroprotection, and Neurogenesis -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Part I Estrogens, Progestins, Allopregnanolone and Neuroprotection -- 1 Interactions of Estradiol and Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in Neuroprotection: Implications for Brain Aging and Neurodegeneration -- 1.1 Introduction: Hormones, Brain Aging, and Neurodegeneration -- 1.2 Estradiol, IGF-I, Brain Aging, and Neuroprotection -- 1.3 Molecular Interactions of Estrogen Receptors and IGF-I Receptor in the Brain -- 1.4 Regulation of IGF-I Receptor Signaling by Estradiol in the Brain -- 1.5 Regulation of Estrogen Receptor Transcriptional Activity by IGF-I in Neural Cells -- 1.6 Implications of the Cross Talk between Estrogen Receptors and IGF-I Receptors for Brain Aging, and Neurodegeneration -- Acknowledgment -- References -- 2 Structure-Nongenomic Neuroprotection Relationship of Estrogens and Estrogen-Derived Compounds -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 In vitro Assessments of Structure-Neuroprotective Activity Relationships -- 2.2.1 Estradiol and Other Known Estratrienes -- 2.2.2 A-Ring Derivatives -- 2.2.3 B- and C-Ring Derivatives -- 2.2.4 D-Ring Derivatives -- 2.2.5 Correlation between Inhibition of TBARs and Protection against Glutamate and IAA -- 2.2.6 Estrogen Receptor Binding -- 2.2.7 Correlation between Inhibition of TBARs or Neuroprotection and ER Binding -- 2.2.8 Interpretation of In vitro Findings -- 2.3 In vivo Assessment of Structure-Neuroprotective Activity Relationships -- 2.4 In vitro Assessment of Structure-Cell Signaling Relationships -- 2.5 Summary -- Acknowledgment -- References -- 3 Progestins and Neuroprotection: Why the Choice of Progestin Matters -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 The Biology of Progesterone -- 3.3 Membrane-Associated Progesterone Receptors -- 3.4 Progesterone-Induced Protection. , 3.5 Mechanisms Underlying Progesterone's Protective Effects -- 3.6 Medroxyprogesterone Acetate -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 4 Endogenous and Synthetic Neurosteroids in the Treatment of Niemann-Pick Type C Disease -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Niemann-Pick Type C Disease as a Model of Disrupted Neurosteroidogenesis -- 4.3 Steroidogenesis and Neurosteroidogenesis in NP-C -- 4.4 Treatment of NP-C Mice with Allopregnanolone -- 4.5 Mechanism of Allopregnanolone Action: GABAA Receptor -- 4.6 Mechanism of Allopregnanolone Action: Pregnane-X Receptor -- 4.7 Mechanism of Allopregnanolone Action: Reduction of Cellular Oxidative Stress -- 4.8 Conclusions - Mechanisms of Allopregnanolone Action in Treatment of NP-C and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part II Glucocorticoids, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Neuroprotection and Neuropathy -- 5 Glucocorticoids, Developmental ''Programming,'' and the Risk of Affective Dysfunction -- 5.1 Introduction to Programming -- 5.2 Programming -- 5.2.1 Epidemiology -- 5.2.2 Birth Weight and Neuropsychiatric Disorders -- 5.3 Glucocorticoids and Fetal Development -- 5.4 Glucocorticoids: the Endocrine Programming Factor -- 5.4.1 Placental 11β-HSD2: a Barrier to Maternal Glucocorticoids -- 5.4.2 Glucocorticoid Programming -- 5.4.3 Transgenerational Effects -- 5.4.4 The Placenta -- 5.4.5 A Common Mechanism? -- 5.5 Fetal Tissue Glucocorticoid Sensitivity -- 5.6 Stress and Glucocorticoids: Key Programmers of the Brain -- 5.6.1 Programming the HPA Axis -- 5.6.2 Sex-Specific Effects -- 5.6.3 Programming Behavior -- 5.7 CNS Programming Mechanisms -- 5.7.1 The GR Gene: a Common Programming Target? -- 5.7.2 Epigenetics -- 5.8 Glucocorticoid Programming in Humans -- 5.8.1 Clinical Use of Prenatal Glucocorticoid Therapy -- 5.8.2 Consequences of Human Fetal Glucocorticoid Overexposure. , 5.8.3 Programming and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) -- 5.8.4 Programming Other Glucocorticoid Metabolizing Enzymes -- 5.9 Future Perspectives and Therapeutic Opportunities -- 5.10 Overview -- References -- 6 Regulation of Structural Plasticity and Neurogenesis during Stress and Diabetes -- Protective Effects of Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonists -- 6.1 The Stress Response -- 6.2 HPA Axis and Glucocorticoids -- 6.3 Glucocorticoid Actions -- 6.4 Feedback Regulation -- 6.5 Stress and Depression -- 6.6 Stress-Induced Viability Changes in the Hippocampus: Effect on Function, Volume, Cell Number, and Apoptosis -- 6.7 Effects of Stress on Dendritic Atrophy, Spine, and Synaptic Changes -- 6.8 Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis -- 6.9 Effect of Stress on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis -- 6.10 Normalization of the Effects of Stress on the Hippocampus by Means of GR Blockade -- 6.11 Normalization of Hippocampal Alterations during Diabetes Mellitus Using the GR Antagonist Mifepristone -- 6.12 Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgments -- Disclosure -- References -- 7 Neuroactive Steroids and Peripheral Neuropathy -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Regulation of Neuroactive Steroid Responsiveness in Peripheral Nerves -- 7.2.1 Synthesis and Metabolism of Neuroactive Steroids -- 7.2.2 Classical and Nonclassical Steroid Receptors are Expressed in Peripheral Nerves -- 7.3 Schwann Cell Responses to Neuroactive Steroids -- 7.4 Sexually Dimorphic Changes of Neuroactive Steroid Levels Induced by Pathology in Peripheral Nerves -- 7.5 Neuroactive Steroids as Protective Agents in PNS -- 7.5.1 Aging Process -- 7.5.2 Physical Injury -- 7.5.3 Diabetic Neuropathy -- 7.6 Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy -- 7.7 Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 8 Neuroprotective and Neurogenic Properties of Dehydroepiandrosterone and its Synthetic Analogs -- 8.1 Introduction. , 8.2 Neuroprotective and Neurogenic Effects of DHEA in Hippocampal Neurons -- 8.3 Neuroprotective Effects of DHEA in Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Neurons -- 8.4 Neuroprotective Effects of DHEA in Autoimmune Neurodegenerative Processes -- 8.5 Neuroprotective Effects of DHEA against Brain Ischemia and Trauma -- 8.6 Signaling Pathways Involved in the Effects of DHEA on Neuronal Cell Fate -- 8.7 Therapeutic Perspectives of DHEA and its Synthetic Analogs in Neurodegenerative Diseases -- References -- 9 Neurosteroids and Pain Christine Patte-Mensah, Laurence Meyer, V´eronique Schaeffer, Cherkaouia -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 General Background on Neurosteroids -- 9.3 Overview on Pain -- 9.4 Involvement of Endogenous Neurosteroids in the Control of Pain -- 9.4.1 Evidence for the Local Production of Neurosteroids in the Spinal Circuit -- 9.4.2 Endogenous Neurosteroids and Pain Modulation -- 9.5 Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part III Polypeptide Hormones and Neuroprotection -- 10 The Insulin/IGF-1 System in Neurodegeneration and Neurovascular Disease -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Insulin and Insulin Growth Factors -- 10.3 Local versus Systemic Actions -- 10.4 Insulin/IGF Signaling Pathway -- 10.5 The Insulin/IGF Axis in the Brain -- 10.6 Insulin/IGF and Neuroprotection -- 10.7 Alzheimer's Disease -- 10.8 Parkinson's Disease -- 10.9 Vascular Dementia -- 10.10 Neurovascular Degeneration -- 10.11 Conclusion -- References -- 11 Leptin Neuroprotection in the Central Nervous System -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.1.1 Origin, Source, and Structure of Leptin -- 11.1.2 Functions of Leptin -- 11.1.3 Leptin Receptors -- 11.1.4 Leptin Transport across the Blood-Brain Barrier -- 11.2 Mutation of Leptin or Leptin Receptors -- 11.3 Neurotrophic Role of Leptin -- 11.4 Leptin Neuroprotection against Disorders of the Central Nervous System. , 11.4.1 Acute Neurological Disorders -- 11.4.2 Neurodegenerative Diseases and Other Disorders -- 11.4.3 Leptin Neuroprotective Mechanisms -- 11.5 Significance -- References -- 12 Somatostatin and Neuroprotection in Retina -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Somatostatin and Related Peptides -- 12.3 Somatostatin Receptors and Signaling -- 12.4 Somatostatin and its Receptors in Retina -- 12.5 Localization of Somatostatin Receptors in Retinal Neurons -- 12.5.1 Sst1 -- 12.5.2 Sst2 -- 12.5.3 Sst3 -- 12.5.4 Sst4 -- 12.5.5 Sst5 -- 12.6 Somatostatin Receptor Function in Retinal Circuitry -- 12.6.1 Effects on Glutamate Release -- 12.6.2 Effects on Dopamine Release -- 12.6.3 Effects on Nitric Oxide/GMP -- 12.6.4 Effects on Somatostatin Release -- 12.7 Neuroprotection by Somatostatin Analogs -- 12.7.1 Retinal Ischemia and Excitotoxicity -- 12.7.2 Anti-Ischemic Actions of SRIF -- 12.7.2.1 Ex vivo Studies -- 12.7.2.2 In vivo Studies -- 12.8 Mechanisms of SRIF's Neuroprotection -- 12.8.1 Involvement of NO/cGMP -- 12.8.2 NO/cGMP Mediates SRIF's Neuroprotective Effects -- 12.9 Therapeutic Potential of Somatostatin Agents -- 12.10 Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- References -- 13 Neurotrophic Effects of PACAP in the Cerebellar Cortex -- 13.1 Expression of PACAP and its Receptors in the Developing Cerebellum -- 13.2 Effects of PACAP on Granule Cell Proliferation -- 13.3 Effects of PACAP on Granule Cell Migration -- 13.4 Effects of PACAP on Granule Cell Survival -- 13.5 Effects of PACAP on Granule Cell Differentiation -- 13.6 Functional Relevance -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 14 The Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in Neuroprotection -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 The CRH Family of Proteins and Molecular Signal Transduction -- 14.3 From the Physiology to the Pathophysiology of CRH -- 14.4 CRH and Neurodegenerative Conditions. , 14.5 Protective Activities of CRH.