17β-Estradiol Inhibits Wound Healing in Male Mice via Estrogen Receptor-α

The study found that 17β-estradiol inhibited wound healing in male mice primarily through estrogen receptor-α (ER-α). Estrogen treatment delayed wound re-epithelialization and reduced collagen accumulation, with increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity contributing to impaired healing. These effects were observed in castrated male mice and were absent in ER-α null mice, indicating the role of ER-α. The study highlighted sex differences in wound healing, as estrogen delayed repair in males but improved it in females. The findings suggested that estrogen-based therapies would require careful optimization of dosing and delivery due to these sex-specific effects. The study involved 5 mice per treatment group, indicating a limited sample size.