Abstract
Summary
1) In adult male albino rats varying amounts of estradiol, all within a range sufficient to produce testicular atrophy, differed in their effects on serum lipids, the smaller amounts causing marked elevation in serum cholesterol and less elevation in phospholipids than larger amounts. Administration of 0.333 mg estradiol benzoate daily resulted in marked elevation of serum cholesterol and phospholipids within 2 weeks, but the C/P ratio remained as low or lower than that of control animals. Over a 5-week period these values reached a peak, then fell in spite of constant diet and hormonal treatment. 3) Equivalent amounts of estriol daily had an effect on serum lipids similar to that of estradiol. 4) Equimolecular amounts of stilbestrol, progesterone, and a variety of substances chemically related to active estrogens had little acute effect on serum lipids under the conditions studied. 5) This experimental plan may be useful for studying simultaneous effects of other steroids on serum lipids and on the reproductive organs of mammals.
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