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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of female sexual hormones on the intestinal NF-κB levels following traumatic brain injury (TBI) induction. Materials and methods: Diffuse TBI was induced by Marmarou method in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Rats randomly assigned into 10 groups: intact, sham+OVX, TBI, TBI+OVX, vehicle, estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), E2+P, PPT and DPN (estrogen receptor alpha and beta agonists, respectively). The intestinal NF-κB p50 and p65 levels were measured by ELISA method 5 days after TBI. Results: The intestinal levels of NF-κB p65 were decreased in TBI group vs intact group (P<0.001). All treatment groups had caused a significant reduction in intestinal levels of NF-κB p65 (P<0.001) vs OVX + TBI. The trauma induction doesn't have any effect on the intestinal NF-κB p50 levels. The OVX+TBI animals treated with estrogen, progesterone and estrogen+ progesterone showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) vs OVX + TBI (P<0.001). PPT had caused a significant reduction in intestinal levels of NF-κB p50 (P <0.05) compared to OVX + TBI. PPT and DPN significantly increased the intestinal levels of NF-κB p50 vs vehicle group (P <0.05). Conclusion: The binding activity of different subunits of NF-κB (p50 and p65) varies following traumatic brain injury. Also, because the NF-κB binding activity reduced in intestinal tissue after treatment with steroids, it is possible that steroids do their performance by reducing the activity of NF-κB and thereby reduce the production of intestinal inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]