TY - JOUR
T1 - Estrogens and progesterone as neuroprotectants
T2 - What animal models teach us
AU - Singh, Meharvan
AU - Sumien, Nathalie
AU - Kyser, Cheryl
AU - Simpkins, James W.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Estradiol and progesterone are two steroid hormones that target a variety of organ systems, including the heart, the bone and the brain. With respect to the latter, a large volume of basic science studies support the neuroprotective role of estradiol and/or progesterone. In fact, the results of such studies prompted the assessment of these hormones as protective agents against such disorders as Alzheimer's disease, stroke and traumatic brain injury. Interestingly, results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) yielded results that appeared to be inconsistent with the data derived from in vitro and in vivo models. However, we argue that the results from the basic science studies were not inconsistent with the clinical trials, but rather, are consistent with, and may even have predicted, the results from the WHI. To illustrate this point, we review here certain in vivo paradigms that have been used to assess the protective effects of estrogens and progesterone, and describe how the results from these animal models point to the importance of the type of hormone, the age of the subjects and the method of hormone administration, in determining whether or not hormones are neuroprotective.
AB - Estradiol and progesterone are two steroid hormones that target a variety of organ systems, including the heart, the bone and the brain. With respect to the latter, a large volume of basic science studies support the neuroprotective role of estradiol and/or progesterone. In fact, the results of such studies prompted the assessment of these hormones as protective agents against such disorders as Alzheimer's disease, stroke and traumatic brain injury. Interestingly, results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) yielded results that appeared to be inconsistent with the data derived from in vitro and in vivo models. However, we argue that the results from the basic science studies were not inconsistent with the clinical trials, but rather, are consistent with, and may even have predicted, the results from the WHI. To illustrate this point, we review here certain in vivo paradigms that have been used to assess the protective effects of estrogens and progesterone, and describe how the results from these animal models point to the importance of the type of hormone, the age of the subjects and the method of hormone administration, in determining whether or not hormones are neuroprotective.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Animal models
KW - Estrogens
KW - Neuroprotection
KW - Progestins
KW - Review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=38449090571&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2741/2746
DO - 10.2741/2746
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17981614
AN - SCOPUS:38449090571
SN - 1093-9946
VL - 13
SP - 1083
EP - 1089
JO - Frontiers in Bioscience
JF - Frontiers in Bioscience
IS - 3
ER -