Estrogen as a multi-active neuroprotective agent in traumatic injuries.

In the past decade, research has demonstrated that estrogen's role in physiology and development is far more complicated than previously assumed. Among these discoveries, there has been an increased recognition of the impact estrogen has in neurodevelopment, central nervous system physiology, and neuropathophysiology. These observations have led many researchers to consider using estrogen pharmacotherapeutically, at physiologic or supraphysiologic doses, for a variety of injury and toxicity models. In this short review, the effects of estrogen as an anti-apoptotic agent, as an anti-oxidant, and as an anti-inflammatory agent are discussed. Finally, the possibility of using estrogen as a neuroprotectant in neurotrauma is addressed.