Effect of diverse estrogens on estrous behavior and genital tract development in ovariectomized rats
C Beyer; G Morali; R Vargas
Hormones and Behavior 2(4): 273-277
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0018-506X DOI: 10.1016/0018-506x(71)90001-8Document Number: 481561
The effect of two dose levels (1 and 4 g subcutaneously injected for 10 days) of estradiol, estrone, estriol, and estrone-3-sulfate (sodium salt) on the estrous behavior and genital tract of adult Ovariectomized Wistar rats was studied. All estrogens but estriol significantly stimulated lordosis behavior at the 1-g dose level. The order of estrous-promoting poteny was as follows: estradiol, estrone, and estrone-3-sulfate. At the high dose level (4 g) estriol also elicited lordosis behavior in 75% of the rats tested. Both estradiol and estrone at the two dosages employed induced vaginal cornification in all or most of the injected rats. Estriol (1 and 4 g) and estrone-3-sulfate (1 g) failed to induce vaginal cornification. All estrogens used (1 and 4 g) increased uterine weight, though estradiol and estrone were significantly more potent than estriol and estrone-3-sulfate. The results indicate that several natural estrogens can stimulate lordosis behavior in the Ovariectomized rat, and that there is no clear relationship between estrous-promoting potency and genital tract effects in all estrogens.