Estrogens: Trophic and protective factors in the adult brain

Our appreciation that estrogens are important neurotrophic and neuroprotect ive factors has grown rapidly. Although a thorough understanding of the mol ecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie this effect requires further i nvestigation, significant progress has been made due to the availability of animal models in which we can test potential candidates. It appears that e stradiol can act via mechanisms that require classical intracellular recept ors (estrogen receptor alpha or beta) that affect transcription, via mechan isms that include cross-talk between estrogen receptors and second messenge r pathways, and/or via mechanisms that may involve membrane receptors or ch annels. This area of research demands attention since estradiol may be an i mportant therapeutic agent in the maintenance of normal neural function dur ing aging and after injury. (C) 2001 Academic Press.