Objective To study the effect of 17β-estrogen(17β-E2)on injured dopaminergic (DA) neurons induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA),and explore whether 17β-E2 has neuroprotective effect.Methods The male SD rats aged 2-3 d were decapitated under sterile conditions; the brain slices were induced injury by 6-OHDA(200 μmol/L); cells in the slices were divided into control group and 17β-E2 treatment groups(intervention with 1.0xl0-8 mol/L,1.0xl0-9 mol/L and 1.0×10-10 mol/L of 17β-E2,respectively).The tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)expression in DA neurons was observed by Western blotting at 15,30 and 60 min after the intervention.Results The expression of TH in the 1.0×10-9 mol/L 17β-E2 treatment group was the highest,which was significantly different as compared with that in the control group(P＜0.05); increasing or decreasing the concentration of 17β-E2 could not regulate the expression of TH; in the 1.0×10-9 mol/L 17β-E2 treatment group,TH expression at 15 min after intervention enjoyed the highest level; the TH expression could not increase by extending the time.Conclusion The 17β-E2 treatment at certain concentration(1.0×10-9 mol/L)for certain time(15 min)has a protective effect on injuried DA neurons