Sex Hormone Supplementation Improves Breathing and Restores Respiratory Neuroplasticity Following C2 Hemisection in Rats

This study on 28 male rats examined the effects of sex hormone supplementation, specifically 17β-estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), on respiratory function and neuroplasticity following a C2 hemisection spinal cord injury. The results showed that both E2 and DHT restored phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF), a form of respiratory neuroplasticity, two weeks post-injury. E2 also improved overall breathing recovery by reducing baseline respiratory frequency and increasing tidal volume during respiratory challenges. These findings suggest that hormone supplementation, particularly through estrogen receptor signaling, may aid in respiratory recovery and offer potential therapeutic avenues for spinal cord injury rehabilitation.