Grant: Operating Grant

The transition to menopause is marked by significant hormonal changes and may also be accompanied by depressed mood, hot flashes and night sweats;in addition to other contributing factors such as stressful life events, co-morbid medical conditions and coping skills/ personality traits, these changes might impact quality of life and overall functioning. Estrogen treatment has been widely used to alleviate most of the menopause-associated symptoms. However, the exact mechanisms by which estrogen treatments improve mood and regulate body temperature are still unknown. This study will examine the role of neurotransmitters in estrogen treatment, providing critical information on the biological underpinning of estrogen's effects on symptomatic women during the menopausal transition and early postmenopausal years. Ultimately, the results from these experiments will lead to a better understanding of the ET effects on mood in women and possibly guide the development of novel, safer pharmacological treatments for depression in women across the reproductive life cycle.