Figure 2.

Schematic representation of the role played by estrogen in cardiac repair and of the effects mediated by specific receptors. E2 through its interaction with the different receptors (ERα, ERβ or GPER) can induce different effects, which can be genomic and/or non-genomic. Importantly, E2 levels vary by sex and, especially in the case of females, by age. Postmenopausal women may have E2 levels similar to those found in men. Furthermore, E2 can sometimes induce discordant effects based on the experimental models used. E2, estradiol; GPER, G protein-coupled estrogen receptor; OVX, ovariectomized; NO, nitric oxide; ROS, reactive oxygen species.