Oestrogen and nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration: animal models and clinical reports of Parkinson's disease.

1. The exact nature of oestrogen (positive, negative or no effect) in the dopaminergic neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease is controversial. 2. In the present review, we summarize the data on oestrogen and nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration in animal models and clinical reports of Parkinson's disease. 3. Most animal studies support the ability of oestrogen to function as a neuroprotectant against neurotoxins that target the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. 4. Retrospective and prospective clinical studies generally support the findings from animal studies that oestrogen exerts a positive, or, at worst, no effect, in Parkinson's disease. 5. Oestrogen was chosen as one of the 12 neuroprotective compounds to be attractive candidates for further clinical trials (Phase II or III) in 2003.