# Impact of brain estrogens on cognition and brain aging in a non-human primate

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST · 2024 · $31,566

## Abstract

The goal of the parent grant is to characterize the effects of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole
(LET) and the brain-selective estrogen prodrug DHED on (1) behavior; (2) brain
electrophysiology; and (3) gene expression, in several regions of the marmoset brain. An
important supplement to this effort is to better understand the cellular and molecular
mechanisms by which LET and DHED affect the male and female primate brain. For her
Masters’ project, Ms. Abigail Monroy Duenas will use immunohistochemistry (IHC) in marmoset
brain tissue to quantify the spatial distribution of aromatase protein and estrogen receptors
(ERs) in males and females treated with DHED, DHED + LET or vehicle. Because the Masters’
is to be completed within one year, the project will address a single specific aim:
 To quantify aromatase protein and ERs in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and
 hypothalamus of male and female marmoset brains treated with DHED, DHED + LET or
vehicle.
 Very limited data on aromatase distribution and ERs are available for the marmoset brain.
Therefore Ms. Monroy Duenas’ project to identify ERs and aromatase in several regions of
marmoset brain tissue is impactful and will be a unique opportunity for her to be trained in
valuable new skills.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11062955
- **Project number:** 3R01CA246929-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
- **Principal Investigator:** Agnes Lacreuse
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $31,566
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11062955

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11062955, Impact of brain estrogens on cognition and brain aging in a non-human primate (3R01CA246929-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11062955. Licensed CC0.

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