Progesterone's role in neuroprotection, a review of the evidence

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Eric R. Deutsch, Emory University; Tamara Espinoza, Emory University; Fahim Atif, Emory University; Elise Woodall, Emory University; Jordan Kaylor, Emory University; David Wright, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-09-12
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2013.07.014
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Brain Research
• ISSN: 0006-8993
• Volume: 1530
• Start Page: 82
• End Page: 105
• Keywords: SEX STEROID-HORMONES; Neurosciences & Neurology; EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS; GLOBAL CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA; SPINAL-CORD-INJURY; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; TRAUMATIC BRAIN-INJURY; DISEASE-MODIFYING ACTIVITY; AMYGDALA-KINDLED SEIZURES; Science & Technology; NEUROSCIENCES; RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL; Neurosciences; Progesterone; Neuroprotection; CORTICAL CONTUSION INJURY; Traumatic brain injury; PROGESTIN MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy

Abstract

The sex hormone progesterone has been shown to improve outcomes in animal models of a number of neurologic diseases, including traumatic brain injury, ischemia, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, demyelinating disease, neuromuscular disorders, and seizures. Evidence suggests it exerts its neuroprotective effects through several pathways, including reducing edema, improving neuronal survival, and modulating inflammation and apoptosis. In this review, we summarize the functional outcomes and pathophysiologic mechanisms attributed to progesterone treatment in neurologic disease. We then comment on the breadth of evidence for the use of progesterone in each neurologic disease family. Finally, we provide support for further human studies using progesterone to treat several neurologic diseases.