Changes in 17beta-estradiol concentration in autonomic regulatory nuclei following MCAO

Stroke-induced lesions in the insular cortex of the brain have been linked to autonomic dysfunction leading to arrhythmiogenesis and sudden cardiac death. In experimental models, systemic exogenous estrogen has been shown to reduce stroke-induced cell death in the insular cortex. However, estrogen's ability to reduce stroke-induced autonomic dysfunctions appears to be due to its effects at other extra-cortical autonomic regulatory nuclei. We therefore set out to test the hypothesis that estrogen concentrations increase in autonomic nuclei in a rodent model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the absence of system changes in estrogen concentrations. Overall, it can be concluded that, in some brain regions, a local response to ischemic damage may occur through local release or increased synthesis of estrogen. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).