The present study suggests that the intestinal microcirculation in experimental sepsis can be modulated by estradiol receptor agonists.These findings might explain the relative resistance of the female gastrointestinal barrier function to systemic inflammation.Estradiol receptors agonists represent a novel alternative for experimental treatment with the non-selective steroid hormone estradiol in sepsis.However,further studies are needed to provide additional,mechanistic information to understand the effects of estradiol receptor agonists.The use of such agonists would be beneficial as it might avoid the side effects reported after estradiol hormone therapy.