Although endothelin-1 (ET-1) induces vasoconstriction, it remains unknown whether 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) treatment following trauma-hemorrhage alters these ET-1-induced vasoconstrictive effects. In addition, the role of the specific estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes (ER-alpha and ER-beta) and the endothelium-localized downstream mechanisms of actions of E(2) remain unclear. We hypothesized that E(2) attenuates increased ET-1-induced vasoconstriction following trauma-hemorrhage via an ER-beta-mediated pathway. To study this, aortic rings were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats following trauma-hemorrhage with or without E(2) treatment, and alterations in tension were determined in vitro. Dose-response curves to ET-1 were determined, and the vasoactive properties of E(2), propylpyrazole triol (PPT, ER-alpha agonist), and diarylpropionitrile (DPN, ER-beta agonist) were determined. The results showed that trauma-hemorrhage significantly increased ET-1-induced vasoconstriction; however, administration of E(2) normalized ET-1-induced vasoconstriction in trauma-hemorrhage vessels to the sham-operated control level. The ER-beta agonist DPN counteracted ET-1-induced vasoconstriction, whereas the ER-alpha agonist PPT was ineffective. Moreover, the vasorelaxing effects of E(2) were not observed in endothelium-denuded aortic rings or by pretreatment of the rings with a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor. Cyclooxygenase inhibition with indomethacin had no effect on the action of E(2). Thus, E(2) administration attenuates ET-1-induced vasoconstriction following trauma-hemorrhage via an ER-beta-mediated pathway that is dependent on endothelium-derived NO synthesis.