Progesterone and neuroprotection at menopause

Abstract

The neuroprotective effect of progesterone has been demonstrated in numerous experimental cell and animal studies, in traumatic brain/spinal injury, neurodegenerative diseases, storke, demyelinating diseases. Thus progesterone has emerged as a promising candidate for preventing and treating neuronal related disorders leading to a few promising clinical studies.The effects of progesterone in the nervous system involve a variety of signaling actions, therefore we review the evidence that supports the neuroprotective effects of progesterone and recall the mechanisms that mediate these effects. We also discuss the biology of progesterone and the effects of this hormone on myelination and remyelination of the central and peripheral nervous system. Progesterone in the brain is derived from the steroidogenic endocrine glands or from local synthesis by neural cells. Stimulating the formation of endogenous progesterone is currently explored as an alternative strategy for neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and myelin repair.