The molecular actions of oestrogen in the regulation of vascular health

New Findings What is the topic of this review? This review summarizes the beneficial actions of oestrogen on the vasculature, highlighting both molecular mechanisms and functional outcomes. What advances does it highlight? The net effect of oestrogen on the vascular health of women continues to be debated. Recent advances have provided strong evidence for the role of membrane-bound oestrogen receptors in the maintenance of normal endothelial function. On a broader scale, functional outcomes of oestrogen actions on the vasculature may mediate the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in premenopausal women. The conflicting implications of the large-scale clinical menopausal hormone therapy trials in humans versus the findings of studies on experimental animals underscore the limitations within our understanding of the molecular actions of oestrogen. However, recent research has provided improved insight into the actions of oestrogen on the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. This review outlines the actions of oestrogen as it contributes to vascular structure, function and health.