Estradiol slows neurodegeneration in a female mouse experimental model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Effects of estrogen on lifespan and motor functions in female hSOD1 G93A transgenic mice.
J Neurol Sci. 2008 May 15;268(1-2):40-7. Epub 2007 Dec 4. PMID: 18054961
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University, School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease which is caused by degeneration of motor neurons in the central nervous system. The incidence of ALS is higher in men than women, but the female advantage disappears with increased age. Here, we report evidence that the female advantage is due to the protective role of estrogen. In an ALS mouse model carrying the human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (hSOD1) G93A transgene, ovariectomy did not alter the onset age of the disease while reducing the female lifespan by 7 days and making it comparable to that of the male transgenic mice. Treatment of ovariectomized females with 17beta-estradiol (E2) did not delay the onset of disease, but prevented progression of ALS motor dysfunctions as shown by extension reflex test for a limited time window. Importantly, E2 treatment rescued the lifespans in overiectomized females. These findings will provide important new insights to interpretation of disease progression in post-menopausal female ALS patients.