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Annika Eickhoff, Jonas Tjaden, Sarah Stahlke, Matthias Vorgerd, Verena Theis, Veronika Matschke, Carsten Theiß

• Plasticity of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PC) is influenced by progesterone via the classical progesterone receptors PR-A and PR-B by stimulating dendritogenesis, spinogenesis, and synaptogenesis in these cells. Dissociated PC cultures were used to analyze progesterone effects at a molecular level on the voltage-gated T-type-Ca\(^{2+}\)-channels Ca\(_v\)3.1, Ca\(_v\)3.2, and Ca\(_v\)3.3 as they helped determine neuronal plasticity by regulating Ca\(^{2+}\)-influx in neuronal cells. The results showed direct effects of progesterone on the mRNA expression of T-type-Ca\(^{2+}\)-channels, as well as on the protein kinases A and C being involved in downstream signaling pathways that play an important role in neuronal plasticity. For the mRNA expression studies of T-type-Ca\(^{2+}\)-channels and protein kinases of the signaling cascade, laser microdissection and purified PC cultures of different maturation stages were used. Immunohistochemical staining was also performed to characterize the localization of T-type-Ca\(^{2+}\)-channels in PC. Experimental progesterone treatment was performed on the purified PC culture for 24 and 48 hours. Our results show that progesterone increases the expression of Ca\(_v\)3.1 and Ca\(_v\)3.3 and associated protein kinases A and C in PC at the mRNA level within 48 hours after treatment at latest. These effects extend the current knowledge of the function of progesterone in the central nervous system and provide an explanatory approach for its influence on neuronal plasticity.