Contribution of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in the brain response to traumatic brain injury.

Abstract

Although there is evidence that estradiol has neuroprotective effects after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in female rats, it is unclear which estrogen receptor (ER) subtype, ERα or ERβ, mediates this effect. The authors therefore examined the roles of the different ERs in this effect. Here the authors used the ERα selective agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) and the ERβ selective agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN) alone and in combination in female rats to investigate this question.