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Neuroglobin (Ngb), so named after its initial discovery in brain neurones, has received great attention as a result of its neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. Recently, we demonstrated that, in neurones, Ngb is a 17β‐oestradiol (E₂) inducible protein that is pivotal for hormone‐induced anti‐apoptotic effects against H₂O₂ toxicity. The involvement of Ngb in other brain cell populations, as well as in other neuroprotective effects of E₂, is completely unknown at present. We demonstrate Ngb immunoreactivity in reactive astrocytes located in the proximity of a penetrating cortical injury in vivo and the involvement of Ngb in the E₂‐mediated anti‐inflammatory effect in primary cortical astrocytes. Upon binding to oestrogen receptor (ER)β, E₂ enhances Ngb levels in a dose‐dependent manner. Although with a lesser degree than E₂, the pro‐inflammatory stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also induces the …