title: Ovariectomy- and sex hormone-induced changes in the excitability of the CNS: an assessment by EEG paroxysmal activity and behaviour.
abstract: The changes in the excitability of the CNS were investigated in female rats after ovariectomy and subsequent substitution with ovarial hormones (estradiol, progesterone and combination of both steroids). The excitability of the CNS was evaluated by the spontaneous EEG paroxysmal activity and by some behavioural features (alertness, exploration and quiet wakefulness). The experimental results showed that the removal of the sex hormone secretion for a long-term period causes a discrepancy between the decrease of behavioral patterns and increased excitability in CNS. The substitution with physiological doses of estradiol and progesterone elicits further increase of the sensitivity of the CNS. The latter was demonstrated by an increase of the excitability both in quiet wakefulness and alertness.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Nikiforova
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Patchev
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Nikolov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones