Effect of sex hormones on feed intake in rats
Bull, L.S.; Hurley, W.L.; Kennett, W.S.; Tamplin, C.B.; Williams, W.F.
Journal of Nutrition 104(8): 968-975
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 4136695 Document Number: 493730
Intact or castrated male and female rats were given sex hormones: diethylstilboestrol and ethinyl oestradiol (oestrogenic compounds), 6-chloro-6-dehydro-17 alpha -acetoxy progesterone, progesterone and testosterone. Oestrogens resulted in a significant reduction in feed intake in weanling or adult, intact or gonadectomized, males or females. The extent of reduction was greater in adults than in weanlings but was never total. The reduction in adult females did not persist, although it was greater initially than in weanlings. In weanling adrenalectomized intact or castrated males, oestrogen was not effective in reducing intake, whereas when oestrogen treatment was started with adults a significant reduction occurred. Intake was not affected by testosterone at 5 or 500 mg/kg diet, nor did progesterone affect intake at up to 3 mg/kg diet or injected at up to 1 mg/rat day. Progesterone did not overcome the depression in intake caused by oestrogen when the ratio of exogenous oestrogen to progesterone additions was within the range 1:800 to 1000. Removal of the testes caused a reduction of intake in males with or without adrenals, while removal of the ovaries caused intake to increase in females. Intake is depressed by oestrogenic hormones. The adrenal seems to be involved in the expression of the depressing effect of oestrogenic materials.