17alpha-Dihydroequilenin increases hippocampal dendritic spine density of ovariectomized rats.
The effects of estradiol and 17alpha-dihydroequilenin on the apical dendrite spine density of pyramidal cells of the CA1 region of rat hippocampus were compared. 17alpha-Dihydroequilenin was as effective as estradiol in increasing spine densities relative to controls. 17alpha-Dihydroequilenin is not uterotrophic like estradiol but does have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, suggesting that it may be an effective single-agent hormone replacement therapy to treat menopausal symptoms and reduce chronic disease risk in menopausal women.
Washburn
S A
SA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1040, USA.
Lewis
C E
CE
Johnson
J E
JE
Voytko
M L
ML
Shively
C A
CA
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects*; D004857:Equilin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004857:Equilin; C014482:dihydroequilin