Effects of estrogen upon hypothalamic vulnerability to goldthioglucose in mice

Two groups of ovariectomized albino mice were given subcutaneous injections of either seasame oil or increasing doses of estradiol benzoate (EB) for 8 days. Mice were housed in groups of three; food intake (FI) and body weight (Bwt) were measured daily during this period. After 8 days, all mice were injected IP with 0.3 mg/g of goldthioglucose (GTG) and sacrificed 2 days later. The extent of hypothalamic damage after GTG was assessed histologically. Although EB did not depress FI or Bwt, perhaps because of some behavioral interaction within the groups of mice, the extent of hypothalamic damage after GTG was significnatly increased in EB-treated mice relative to that of oil-injected controls. These data support the view that estrogen may enhance the uptake and/or storage of glucose by the ventromedial hypothalamus.