title: Neuroprotective effects of 17β-estradiol associate with KATP in rat brain.
abstract: Previous studies have indicated that estrogen protects the brain from ischemic damage and regulates K(ATP) channel activity; the present study was designed to address the involvement of K(ATP) channels in the neuroprotective effects of estrogen in focal cerebral ischemia: in experiment 1, K(ATP) mRNA and protein in the cortices of rats were compared among groups of ovariectomized rats (Ovx-1), Sham-operated rats (Sham-1), and ovariectomized rats administered 17β-estradiol (Estr-1). In experiment 2, neurobehavioral scores and infarct volume of rats were evaluated after middle cerebral artery occlusion in ovariectomized rats (Ovx-2), Sham-operated rats (Sham-2), ovariectomized female rats administered 17β-estradiol (Estr-2), and ovariectomized rats administered both 17β-estradiol and stereotactic injections of glibenclamide (Estr+G). Our results showed that the Kir6.2 and SUR1 mRNA and protein levels in the brain cortices of female ovariectomized rats were lower than those in Sham rats. However, the expression levels of Kir6.2 and SUR1 in brain cortices of ovariectomized rats recovered after supplementation with 17β-estradiol. The protective effects of 17β-estradiol were abolished by glibenclamide, a K(ATP) channel blocker. This indicates that estradiol significantly upregulates the expression of K(ATP) channel subunits and channel activity in the brain cortices of ovariectomized rats. This regulation is associated with the neuroprotective effects of estradiol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tognji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Dengwen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chuanhan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wenlong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jinjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xueren
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D054086:KATP Channels / Q000819:agonists / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D054086:KATP Channels; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004958:Estradiol