American journal of surgery
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Comparative Study
Neuroprotective effects of progesterone in traumatic brain injury: blunted in vivo neutrophil activation at the blood-brain barrier.
Progesterone (PRO) may confer a survival advantage in traumatic brain injury (TBI) by reducing cerebral edema. We hypothesized that PRO reduces edema by blocking polymorphonuclear (PMN) interactions with endothelium (EC) in the blood-brain barrier (BBB). ⋯ PRO reduces live pericontusional EC/PMN and BBB macromolecular leakage after TBI. Direct PRO effects on the microcirculation warrant further investigation.