• Iga N Wegorzewska, Katy Walters, Michael J Weiser, Danette F Cruthirds, Emily Ewell, Darwin O Larco, Robert J Handa, and T John Wu.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
• Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2008 Jul 1;199(1):67.e1-5.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to distinguish the role of specific estrogen receptors (ERs), ERalpha and ERbeta, on body weight regulation using a rat model of weight gain subsequent to menopause.Study DesignOvariectomized rats were utilized as the animal model to simulate the postmenopause weight gain. The rats were ovariectomized and subcutaneously injected daily with vehicle, estradiol-17beta (E2), propylpyrazoletriol (PPT; ERalpha agonist) and diarylpropionitrile (DPN; ERbeta agonist). To further control for the possible effect of estrogen secreted from adrenals, a second experiment was conducted during which the rats were adrenalectomized and ovariectomized.ResultsOvariectomy significantly increased (P < .05) body weight, whereas treatment of ovariectomized rats with E2 and PPT, but DPN decreased (P < .05) body weight. The results from the second study with ovariectomized/adrenalectomized rats were consistent with the first experiment.ConclusionThese results suggest that the activation of ERalpha is important in regulating body weight.

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