The protective effect of estrogen replacement on ascending urinary-tract infection (UTI) is controversial. We designed a study using an experimental model of UTI in which surgically menopausal mice were supplemented with estrogen and the susceptibility to UTI was evaluated after experimental Escherichia coli infection. The mean rate of E. coli infection in the group not treated with estrogen wa...

Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) plays an important role in the regulation of vascular microcirculatory tone. This study explores the role of estrogen in controlling EDHF-mediated vasodilation of uterine resistance arteries of the rat and also analyzes the contribution of endothelial cell (EC) Ca(2+) signaling to this process. A parallel study was also performed with mesenteric...

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on the vaginal flora of postmenopausal women. METHODS Vaginal cultures were obtained from 15 postmenopausal women whose hormonal statuses were documented by serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and serum estrogen levels. After 8 weeks of ERT, consisting of 0.1 mg of estradiol delivered daily by dermal patch, the vagin...

Cardiovascular disease prevalence rises rapidly after menopause, which is believed to be derived from the loss of estrogen. It is reported that sympathetic tone is increased in postmenopause. The high level of oxidative stress in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contributes to increased sympathetic outflow. The focus of this study was to determine if estrogen replacement reduces oxidati...

Relatively little is known about the effects of estrogen on postischemic cerebral vasomotor dynamics after ischemic injury. Emerging hypotheses suggest that the timing after menopause at which hormone replacement is initiated might be important and might modulate the potential benefits of estrogen on brain rescue once a cerebral ischemic event occurs. Therefore, we sought to determine if protra...

The benefits of estrogen replacement as a preventative treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are subject to debate. Because the effects of estrogen depletion and replacement on accumulation of the neurotoxic beta-amyloid (A beta) peptide in transgenic animal models of AD have been variable, we examined A beta levels and oxidative stress in a nontransgenic animal model. Sheep have traditionally...

In previous work, we have demonstrated that cell proliferation in the adult hippocampal formation is regulated by estrogen under both natural and experimental conditions. To determine the extent to which this regulation is affected by the dose or schedule of hormone treatment, or progesterone administration, we examined the impact of different acute and chronic ovarian hormone replacement regim...