Effect of Estradiol Benzoate on Cholesterol and Vitamin A Metabolism. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Weanling male rats depleted of their liver vit. A stores were given the following for 21 days: 0.5% or no cholesterol, 150 or 1000 IU of vit. A acetate daily, and subcutaneous injections of 4 μg of estradiol benzoate 3 times a week in 0.1 ml of cottonseed oil or the carrier oil only. One-half of the rats were castrated at about 4 weeks of age. Castrates showed an inverse relationship between liver vit. A and cholesterol deposition. Estrogenic-treated castrates fed cholesterol responded like the intact rats with an inverse relationship between liver cholesterol deposition in dietary vit. A level. Estradiol benzoate 1) depressed the cholesterol/liver content in the intact rats fed cholesterol and the castrates fed cholesterol with the high vit. A level which may be a reflection of the effect of EB on liver weight only; 2) increased the liver vit. A concentration in castrates fed cholesterol and in intact rats fed cholesterol and the high vit. A level; 3) increased the serum cholesterol level in all groups except the intact rats fed no cholesterol and the high vit. A level.