Hormonal milieu influences whole-brain structural dynamics across the menstrual cycle using dense sampling in multiple individuals
Gonadal hormone receptors are widely distributed across the brain, yet their influence on brain structure remains understudied. Here, using precision imaging, we examined four females, including one with endometriosis and one using oral contraceptives (OC), across a monthly period. Whole-brain analyses revealed spatiotemporal patterns of brain volume changes, with substantial variations across the monthly period. In typical cycles, spatiotemporal patterns were associated with serum progesterone levels, while in cycles with endometriosis and during OC intake, patterns were associated with serum estradiol levels. The volume changes were widely distributed rather than region-specific, suggesting a widespread but coordinated influence of hormonal fluctuations. These findings underscore the importance of considering diverse hormonal milieus beyond typical menstrual cycles in understanding structural brain dynamics and suggest that hormonal rhythms may drive widespread structural brain changes.
Authors
- Martin Walter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7857-4483)
- Robert Dahnke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7478-7489)
- Ilona Croy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-5559)
- Laura Pritschet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4701-1017)
- Frederik Lange (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1736-7162)
- Lejla Čolić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-4034)
- Tim L. Jesgarzewsky
- Emily Goard Jacobs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0001-5096)
- Habib Ganjgahi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7332-9478)
- Nooshin Javaheripour (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1900-2757)
- Zora Kikinis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7203-1362)
- Bart Larsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7896-4342)
- Daniel Güllmar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8693-8099)
- Martin Gell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3407-3393)
- Feliberto de la Cruz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6529-2679)
- Michael Kiehntopf
- Carina J. Koeppel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3873-6489)
- Christian Gaser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9940-099X)
- Carina Heller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6187-6987)
- Philine Rojczyk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9813-3690)
- Ann-Christine Buck
Institutions
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Helmholtz Institute Jena (DE)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Allen Institute for Brain Science (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (GB)
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (DE)
- German Center for Lung Research (DE)
- Jena University Hospital (DE)
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus (DE)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena (DE)
- Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2025-09-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02066-2
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.40
Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- National Institutes of Health
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme