Protection of cultured spinal motor neurons by estradiol

Estrogens have been reported to exert neuroprotection in the brain, but the re have been no reports of such neuroprotection in spinal motor neurons, th e neurons selectively involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In t his study, we demonstrated that 17 beta -estradiol and its biologically ina ctive stereoisomer, 17 alpha -estradiol, prevented glutamate- and nitric ox ide (NO)-induced selective motor neuronal death observed in primary culture s of the rat spinal cord. The dose of estradiols required for motor neuron protection was greatly reduced by co-administration with glutathione. The r esults of this study shows that estradiol protects spinal motor neurons fro m excitotoxic insults in vitro, and may have application as a treatment for ALS. NeuroReport 11:3493-3497 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.