17beta-Estradiol protects against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity by direct inhibition of NMDA receptors.

作者信息

Weaver C E, Park-Chung M, Gibbs T T, Farb D H

机构信息

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118-2394, USA.

出版信息

Brain Res. 1997 Jul 4;761(2):338-41. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00449-6.

Several lines of evidence suggest that 17beta-estradiol (betaE2) has neuroprotective properties. The risk and severity of dementia are decreased in women who have received estrogen therapy, and betaE2 protects neurons in vitro against death from a variety of stressors. Neuroprotection by betaE2 has been suggested to be due to free radical scavenging. We demonstrate an additional neuroprotective mechanism whereby betaE2 protects against NMDA-induced neuronal death by directly inhibiting the NMDA receptor.