AC-186, a selective nonsteroidal estrogen receptor β agonist, shows gender specific neuroprotection in a Parkinson's disease rat model

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2013 Sep 18;4(9):1249-55. doi: 10.1021/cn400132u. Epub 2013 Aug 6.

Abstract

Drugs that selectively activate estrogen receptor β (ERβ) are potentially safer than the nonselective estrogens currently used in hormonal replacement treatments that activate both ERβ and ERα. The selective ERβ agonist AC-186 was evaluated in a rat model of Parkinson's disease induced through bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra. In this model, AC-186 prevented motor, cognitive, and sensorimotor gating deficits and mitigated the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, in males, but not in females. Furthermore, in male rats, 17β-estradiol, which activates ERβ and ERα with equal potency, did not show the same neuroprotective benefits as AC-186. Hence, in addition to a beneficial safety profile for use in both males and females, a selective ERβ agonist has a differentiated pharmacological profile compared to 17β-estradiol in males.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Corpus Striatum / chemistry
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects
  • Corpus Striatum / pathology
  • Cyclohexanes / chemistry
  • Cyclohexanes / pharmacology
  • Cyclohexanes / therapeutic use*
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Estradiol / therapeutic use
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / agonists*
  • Exploratory Behavior / drug effects
  • Female
  • Male
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / analysis
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Ovariectomy
  • Oxidopamine / toxicity
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / chemically induced
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / pharmacology
  • Phenols / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reflex, Startle / drug effects
  • Rotarod Performance Test
  • Sex Factors
  • Substantia Nigra / chemistry
  • Substantia Nigra / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / analysis

Substances

  • AC-186
  • Cyclohexanes
  • Cytokines
  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Phenols
  • Estradiol
  • Oxidopamine
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase