Sex Differences and Role of Gonadal Hormones on Glutamate LevelAfter Spinal Cord Injury in Rats: A Microdialysis Study.

The significant differences in glutamate levels between both intact and gonadectomized SCI male and female rats show the sex-hormone-related mechanisms underlying the molecular events in the second phase of SCI. It seems that the role of male gonadal hormones to prevent glutamate excitotoxicity is more prominent. The exact mechanisms of these hormones on the functional recovery after SCI should be clarified in further studies.