17β-Estradiol Increases Rat Cerebrovascular Prostacyclin Synthesis by Elevating Cyclooxygenase-1 and Prostacyclin Synthase

It has been reported that estrogens modulate peripheral vascular synthesis of vasodilatory hormones, including prostacyclin. If this occurs in the cerebral circulation, it could have important consequences in the modulation of cerebral hemodynamic function and improvement of stroke outcome. We investigated the hypothesis that in vivo 17beta-estradiol treatment of ovariectomized rats increases cerebrovascular prostacyclin production via elevation of the enzymes responsible for prostacyclin synthesis.