雌激素替代治疗去卵巢大鼠血清一氧化氮含量的变化

目的建立雌激素替代治疗动物模型,观察其血清中一氧化氮(NO)含量的变化.方法取40只雌性大鼠切除双侧卵巢,随机分成四组A组假手术组;B组单纯去卵巢组;C组去卵巢+雌激素治疗组(隔日肌注苯甲酸雌二醇5μg);D组去卵巢+雌孕激素治疗组(隔日肌注苯甲酸雌二醇5μg,黄体酮1mg),两月后检测血清中雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(P)及NO2-/NO3-的含量.结果(1)卵巢切除后血清E2、P和NO2-/NO3-浓度显著降低;(2)雌激素治疗组和雌孕激素治疗组血清E2和NO2-/NO3-的含量及雌孕激素治疗组血清P的含量,略低于A组而显著高于去卵巢组.结论所建立的动物模型可以模拟绝经及绝经后的小剂量雌激素替代治疗,动物模型体内雌激素浓度与具有抗衰老作用的NO浓度呈相互平行的变化关系,雌激素可能通过NO达到延缓衰老作用.     

维生素E对2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并二噁英急性染毒小鼠卵巢内分泌及其结构的影响

为研究维生素E对2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并二噁英(TCDD)染毒小鼠生殖内分泌功能和卵巢的影响,设计了急性染毒实验。将24只4-5周龄的健康雌性小鼠(Mus musculus)随机分为对照组、TCDD(30μg/kg)染毒组和染毒同时给予100mg/kg维生素E组3组。通过放射免疫法测定小鼠血浆孕酮、雌二醇含量的变化,显微镜下计数卵泡数量并观察其形态变化。结果表明,TCDD能导致小鼠血浆孕酮含量的降低及卵巢结构的紊乱、卵泡数量的减少。100mg/kg的维生素E能明显对抗急性TCDD染毒引起的雌鼠孕酮含量和卵泡数量降低,缓解TCDD引起的小鼠卵巢形态结构的病变;TCDD染毒和维生素E对小鼠血浆雌二醇含量均没有明显影响。结果表明,维生素E对TCDD引起的内分泌功能紊乱以及卵泡数量降低有拮抗作用。     

胚泡对子宫的局部影响:雌、孕激素及其受体量的变化

前文指出,大鼠在妊娠第六天(D_6)血液和子宫组织中雌二醇含量明显上升;子宫胞质受体此时也达高峰;特别值得注意的是在D_6细胞核雌、孕激素受体皆比D_5显著升高(刘以训、贾晓池1981;刘以训、贾晓池1982)。Dickmann等用组织化学的方法在大鼠、小鼠、地鼠和家兔等动物胚泡中发现有△~5-3β-羟脱氢酶及17-β-羟甾体脱氢酶的活性,作者认为胚泡能合成孕酮和雌激素(Dey et al., 1976;Dickmann et al., 1976、1977:Sen Gupta,1977)。Psychoyos(1973)给妊娠大鼠子宫中注射3—5毫微克雌二醇,动物去卵巢后只要每天注射孕酮仍能着床。Dickmann等(1977)进而指出,胚泡雌激素能引     

维生素E对2，3，7，8-四氯二苯并二嗯英急性染毒小鼠卵巢内分泌及其结构的影响

为研究维生素E对2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并二嗯英（TCDD）染毒小鼠生殖内分泌功能和卵巢的影响,设计了急性染毒实验。将24只4—5周龄的健康雌性小鼠（Musmusculus）随机分为对照组、TCDD（30ag／kg）染毒组和染毒同时给予100mg／kg维生素E组3组。通过放射免疫法测定小鼠血浆孕酮、雌二醇含量的变化,显微镜下计数卵泡数量并观察其形态变化。结果表明,TCDD能导致小鼠血浆孕酮含量的降低及卵巢结构的紊乱、卵泡数量的减少。100mg／kg的维生素E能明显对抗急性TCDD染毒引起的雌鼠孕酮含量和卵泡数量降低,缓解TCDD引起的小鼠卵巢形态结构的病变;TCDD染毒和维生素E对小鼠血浆雌二醇含量均没有明显影响。结果表明,维生素E对TCDD引起的内分泌功能紊乱以及卵泡数量降低有拮抗作用。     

雌激素和孕激素对切除卵巢大鼠血清胃泌素水平和胃酸分泌的影响

卵巢切除两周后大鼠血清胃泌素水平升高和胃酸分泌增加;给予苯甲酸雌二醇(10μg/d)可完全阻止这两种变化,但补充黄体酮(0.2mg/d)对卵巢切除大鼠的血清胃泌素水平无影响,仅明显减少胃酸分泌。本实验结果提示,雌激素对于雌性大鼠的胃泌素释放和胃酸分泌具有抑制作用,孕激素也有抑制胃酸分泌的作用,这些作用不是摄食量改变的结果.     

繁殖期雌性蓝狐性激素检测与 性器官组织学观察

为了研究繁殖期雌性蓝狐(Alopexlagopus)类固醇激素含量、发情表现与性器官组织学结构之间的关系,于2019年选取繁殖期不同发情状况的雌性蓝狐,共18只,分为典型发情、非典型发情和不发情3组。通过无损伤取样法采集粪便与尿液并通过放射免疫法(RIA)测定孕酮(P)和雌二醇(E2)的含量;每组选取1只在发情并输精的当天取卵巢和子宫,进行组织学观察。结果显示,所测定典型发情、非典型发情、不发情蓝狐类固醇激素水平,雌二醇在尿液中的含量显著高于粪便,且在不同组间差异明显,尤其在典型发情组更高,达到(11 065.17±546.76)ng/L;孕酮含量尿液与粪样差异不大,孕酮含量在典型发情雌性蓝狐粪便与尿液含量差异不显著,但在不发情雌性蓝狐中差异显著,为(16.61±0.63)μg/L。粪尿测定孕酮和雌二醇激素含量与三组不同情况的发情表现相比相关性显著。粪、尿作为类固醇激素检测样本,虽然含量有差异,但变化趋势一致,都可使用。卵巢与子宫在典型发情雌性蓝狐中体积较大,卵巢可见各级卵泡和多个黄体,子宫黏膜上皮为柱状上皮,排列紧密,固有层内可见大量腺体;非典型发情雌性蓝狐卵巢、子宫发育状况与典型发情雌性蓝狐相类似;不发情雌性蓝狐卵巢、子宫呈静息状态,卵巢中卵泡多处于闭锁状态,无卵母细胞,也无黄体,固有层间质细胞及肌层肌细胞排列更为紧密。说明检测孕酮和雌二醇激素的含量,可以准确判定蓝狐发情的状态。     

小熊猫繁殖周期血清雌二醇和孕酮含量变化

为研究小熊猫繁殖周期血清雌二醇、孕酮含量变化规律,采用化学发光免疫分析法连续16 次测定了2只成体雌性小熊猫血清雌二醇和孕酮含量变化,历经发情间期、发情期和两次妊娠期;连续9次测定了7只小熊猫妊娠期的孕酮含量变化。结果:(1)发情间期,小熊猫血清雌二醇的水平一直维持在低水平(基础水平),进入发情前期,血清雌二醇水平明显升高,在发情期一直维持高水平,配种后迅速降至基础水平; (2)小熊猫血清孕酮含量在发情间期和发情期均维持在较低水平,直至发情期过后才出现升高,在妊娠期一直维持高水平,峰值出现在5 月;(3)发情的小熊猫不论妊娠与否,在妊娠期内血清孕酮含量均维持在高水平。研究表明:小熊猫血清雌二醇、孕酮含量变化能直接反映其繁殖规律,雌二醇对启动雌性小熊猫季节性繁殖起重要作用;在妊娠期内小熊猫血清孕酮含量升高不能作为判断小熊猫妊娠的标准;雌性小熊猫在妊娠期有假孕现象。     

雌激素对6-羟基多巴胺损伤黑质多巴胺能神经元的保护作用

本研究以P50听觉诱发电位(P50 auditory evoked potential, P50)和酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase, TH)阳性细胞计数作为黑质功能和形态学指标,动态追踪研究雌激素对6-羟基多巴胺(6-hydroxydopamine, 6-OHDA)损伤黑质多巴胺(dopamine, DA)能神经元的作用.将大鼠分为4组:(1)正常雌性大鼠对照组;(2)单纯帕金森氏病(Parkinson's disease, PD)模型组;(3)双侧去卵巢PD模型组;(4)去卵巢回补3d雌激素的PD模型组.在大鼠清醒和安静的生理状态下连续14d记录黑质的P50,并检测黑质TH 细胞数目的变化.结果显示:单纯PD模型大鼠黑质P50的T/C值较正常雌鼠降低40.60%(P<0.01),其损伤侧黑质TH 细胞数目减少64.74%(P<0.01);去卵巢PD模型大鼠黑质P50的T/C值较单纯PD模型大鼠进一步降低45.88%(P<0.01),同时其黑质TH 细胞数目值也进一步减少57.26%(P<0.01),表明急性缺乏生理水平性腺雌激素将增大6-OHDA损伤黑质DA能神经元的程度,同时使黑质的感觉门控(sensory gating, SG)功能明显受损;去卵巢后回补3d生理剂量雌激素,可明显改善大鼠黑质的SG功能,提高TH 细胞数量(与去卵巢PD模型大鼠比较,P<0.01),其黑质损伤程度与单纯PD模型大鼠相当.以上结果提示,生理水平的雌激素具有提高黑质DA能神经元对伤害性刺激耐受性的神经保护作用.缺乏性腺源性的雌激素时,及时给予生理剂量的雌激素可以减轻神经毒素6-OHDA对黑质DA能神经元结构和功能的损伤.     

甘草素对去卵巢APP/PS1双转基因小鼠的保护作用初探

研究甘草素对去卵巢APP/PS1双转基因小鼠脑内老年斑及雌激素受体的作用。24只3月龄雌性APP/PS1双转基因小鼠,随机分为假手术组(6只)和去卵巢组(18只)。手术7 d后,再将去卵巢组随机分为去卵巢(ovariectomy,OVX)对照组、去卵巢+甘草素(liquiritigenin,LG)处理组(OVX+LG,30 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1),灌胃)、去卵巢+雌二醇(17β-estradiol,E_2)处理组(OVX+E_2,0.1μg/g皮下注射,阳性对照),各6只,假手术组为试剂对照组(Sham)。3个月后小鼠心脏灌注取脑组织样本。免疫组化法检测老年斑(senile plaques,SP)的表达变化,ELISA检测脑内Amyloidβpeptide 40(Aβ40)、Amyloidβpeptide 42(Aβ42)含量,Western blotting检测雌激素受体α(estrogen receptorα,ERα)、雌激素受体β(estrogen receptorβ,ERβ)蛋白水平变化。结果显示:去卵巢组的老年斑数量(p=0.001)和面积(p0.000 1)均多于假手术组,甘草素处理组(p0.000 1,p0.000 1)和雌二醇处理组(p0.000 1,p0.000 1)的老年斑数量、面积均少于去卵巢组。去卵巢组Aβ40、Aβ42含量(p=0.011,p=0.005)均高于假手术组,甘草素处理组(p=0.000,p=0.015)和雌二醇处理组(p=0.003,p=0.016,)均少于去卵巢组。去卵巢组ERα的蛋白水平,与假手术组、甘草素处理组比较,差异无统计学意义(p=0.214,p=0.175),而雌二醇处理组与假手术组、卵巢切除组、甘草素处理组分别比较均明显增高(p0.000 1,p0.000 1,p0.000 1);卵巢切除组ERβ的蛋白水平与假手术组比明显下降(p0.000 1),甘草素处理组(p0.000 1)、雌二醇处理组(p=0.000)与卵巢切除组比较,均能提高ER的表达水平,甘草素处理组比雌二醇处理组提高ERβ蛋白水平更为显著(p=0.006)。甘草素具有雌激素类似的调节作用,可能通过上调ERβ水平、对抗Aβ毒副作用、减少Aβ沉积从而对AD发挥保护作用。     

孕激素诱导cyclin G1在小鼠子宫内膜上皮细胞的表达及其对细胞增殖的影响

本文在体外培养条件下研究卵巢激素诱导小鼠子宫内膜上皮细胞cyclin G1的表达及细胞增殖和细胞周期进程的变化,以探讨孕激素依赖的细胞周期调控因子cyclin G1对子宫内膜上皮细胞增殖的负调控作用.原代培养小鼠子宫内膜上皮细胞,待其生长汇合后分为4组:对照组(C组)、雌激素组(E组)、孕激素组(P组)、雌、孕激素共同作用组(EP组).加入相应激素作用24 h后,用细胞免疫化学方法检测各组细胞cyclin G1的表达水平:四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测各组细胞活力,间接观察子宫内膜上皮细胞的增殖情况;用流式细胞仪检测分布在细胞周期各时相的子宫内膜上皮细胞所占百分数.细胞免疫化学结果显示,cyclin G1在C组和E组子宫内膜上皮细胞上无明显表达,而在P组和EP组子宫内膜上皮细胞中表达明显,且定位于细胞核内.MTT法结果显示,与C组相比,E组细胞活力明显增高,而P组和EP组的细胞活力均明显下降,表明雌激素能促进子宫内膜上皮细胞增殖,而孕激素则具有抑制子宫内膜上皮细胞增殖的作用.流式细胞术检测显示,与C组相比,E组中处于S期的子宫内膜上皮细胞百分数增多;P组与EP组中处于S期的子宫内膜上皮细胞百分数明显减少,而处于G1期的细胞百分数和G2/M期的细胞百分数则明显增加.上述结果提示,孕激素依赖的cyclin G1可能通过阻滞细胞周期进程来参与孕激素对子宫内膜上皮细胞增殖的负调控作用.     

Effect of protracted estrogen administration on the thyroid of Ames dwarf mice

The effect of protracted estrogen administration on estrogen receptor expression and cellular composition of the thyroid was examined in genetically thyrotropin (TSH)-deficient female Ames dwarf mice (df/df) to reveal whether estrogen might act independently from TSH. inducing changes in thyroid morphology and function. To evaluate such changes, the thyroid from four estrogen-implanted Ames dwarf mice, four sham-implanted Ames dwarf mice and four sham-implanted normal littermate mice were investigated histologically, immunohistochemically and morphometrically. Our morphologic study demonstrated significant differences in the colloid areas of normal and dwarf mice (P<0.001). The correlation observed between this parameter and body weights (r=0.610, P<0.05) and thyroid weights (r=0.729, P<0.01) suggests that the decrease in the colloid areas is not a result of abnormal folliculogenesis but is in direct correlation with the small thyroid and body size of dwarf mice. Although two types of estrogen receptors are known to exist in the present study, only the alpha (ERalpha) variant was found in the thyroid. ERalpha immunoreactivity was detected in the nuclei of parafollicular cells but not of the follicular epithelium. No significant differences were reported in ER expression between estrogen-implanted dwarf mice and sham-implanted dwarf mice, suggesting that estrogen receptor expression in the thyroid is independent of circulating estrogen levels. In spite of the absence of ERalpha in follicular cells, protracted estrogen administration affected mainly the follicular cells. Our results suggest that when TSH is absent estrogens may exert a negative feedback on the activity of follicular cells.     

Blockade of lordosis by androst-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione (ATD) and tamoxifen in female hamsters primed with testosterone propionate

Normal female hamsters display lordosis after testosterone propionate (TP) plus progesterone (P) treatments. Such effect is probably mediated through aromatization of testosterone (T) into estradiol. If so, then an aromatase inhibitor (ATD) or an estrogen antagonist (tamoxifen, TAM) should be able to block the activational effect of T on lordosis. To test this hypothesis, 48 ovariectomized female hamsters were assigned into six groups which, according to treatments received, were ATD + TP, TAM + TP, OIL + TP, ATD + EB (estradiol benzoate), TAM + EB, and OIL + EB groups. The groups received assigned treatments for 2 days and were injected with P on the third day. Five minutes of behavior test was conducted 4 hr after P injection. The OIL + TP, OIL + EB, and ATD + EB groups all had averaged total lordosis duration (TLD) longer than 200 sec. The TLD of the TAM + EB group was only 117 sec. The ATD + TP and TAM + TP groups showed almost no lordosis. The results showed that the estrogen antagonist (TAM) impaired lordosis no matter whether the animals were primed with TP or EB, but the aromatase inhibitor (ATD) blocked lordosis only in TP primed females. It is concluded that the aromatization of T to estrogen is required for testosterone activation of lordosis in female hamsters.     

Role played by the adrenal cortex on the luteotrophic action of estrogens during the rat estrus cycle]

Estrogen-induced changes in peripheral blood progesterone concentration have been studied in dexamethasone (DEX) and metopyrone (MET) treated 4-day cyclic female rats. Estradiol benzoate (EB) was injected at 10--11 h on diestrus I and peripheral blood was collected at 16--17 h on diestrus II for progesterone radioimmunoassay. The EB induced-increase in blood progesterone concentration was more pronounced, compared to non-injected females in intact DEX-treated females and in adrenalectomized females treated or not with DEX than in their intact counterparts. The adrenal cortex was then supposed to inhibit the luteotrophic action of EB. When injected for 10--12 days, MET caused an increase in blood progesterone concentration compared to uninjected control animals. No cumulative effects of EB and MET were observed. These results are discussed in the light of knowledge, on the feed-back mechanisms which are involved in the action of estrogen on the pituitary-ovarian-adrenocortical system.     

A re-examination of the lordosis response in female rats given high doses of testosterone propionate or estradiol benzoate in the neonatal period

High lordosis quotients (LQ) were observed when female Wistar rats injected with 1.25 mgm of testosterone propionate (TP) on Day 4 of postnatal life were tested as intact adults. The high LQ was not due to testing during the lights-on period, the age at which the females were tested, the use of a strain that was insensitive to the masculinizing action of TP or estradiol benzoate (EB), the age at which the females were injected with TP or EB, or an abnormal response to estrogen. High LQ values were found in similar tests on adult female rats of two other strains injected with 1.25 mgm TP on Day 4 of life. A marked reduction of the facilitatory action of progesterone on receptivity in estrogen-primed animals was demonstrated in the females of all three strains treated with TP or EB during the neonatal period and for males after castration as adults.Analysis of the experimental records of the mating tests showed that females anovulatory following TP or EB administration during the neonatal period and tested either intact and under the influence of endogenous hormones or under the influence of exogenous estrogen showed a rapid and highly significant increase in receptivity during the course of prolonged (20 min) tests with two or three active stimulus males. This effect was very much reduced if the treated females were under the influence of exogenous estrogen plus progesterone. The effect was not seen in males castrated as adults and treated with estrogen, or in females not treated with steroids in the neonatal period and tested intact at proestrus alone or under the influence of exogenous steroids after ovariectomy. A significant increase in LQ during the test period was observed in females of the Wistar strain which were anovulatory as a result of exposure to constant light and were tested intact without any exogenous hormone being administered.It is suggested that although tests involving a limited number of mounts or attempts to mount at low rates over a short period of time may be adequate to determine the degree of receptivity of normal female rats they are not adequate to establish the capacity of female rats treated with steroid hormones during the neonatal period to display the lordosis response.     

Effects of perinatal exposure to a synthetic estrogen and progestin on mammary tumorigenesis in mice

The effects of perinatal exposure to synthetic estrogens and progestins on mammary tumorigenesis were studied in female C3H/HeN/MTV + mice. Mice were treated neonatally with 0.001 microgram/day diethylstilbestrol (DES), with 15 micrograms/day 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (HPC), or with oil on days 1-5 of life (birth = day 1). As adults, neonatally hormone-treated mice received long-term treatment with a synthetic estrogen and progestin combination or vehicle. Animals were palpated weekly for mammary gland tumors. The effect of treatment on the probability of tumor development was examined. Neonatal treatment with a low dose of DES increased the probability of mammary-gland tumor formation, whereas neonatal treatment with HPC had a slightly protective effect on tumorigenesis. Subsequent treatment of adult mice with synthetic steroids did not affect mammary gland tumorigenesis in neonatally DES-treated or oil-treated animals. There was a significant interaction between the effect of neonatal HPC treatment and subsequent steroid treatment on mammary tumorigenesis but examination of the data indicated that this interaction was due to the protective effect of HPC in the absence of subsequent exposure to synthetic steroids and the probability of tumor appearance in mice treated with both HPC and synthetic steroids as adults did not differ from that of neonatally oil-treated controls.     

Gonadal hormones stimulate ultrasound production by female hamsters.

Two studies were conducted to examine the role of sex hormones in ultrasound production by female hamsters. Ovariectomized hamsters were treated with estradiol benzoate (EB), testosterone propionate (TP), progesterone (P), estradiol plus progesterone (EB + P), testosterone plus progesterone (TP+P), or oil vehicle. Rates of ultrasound production by these females were observed in response to brief male-female contact, and during exposure to synthetic ultrasounds. Maximal rates of ultrasound production required EB + P or TP+P replacement therapy. Intermediate call rates were stimulated by EB and TP individually, whereas P alone had no significant effect. These results support the hypothesis that ovarian estrogens and progesterone control proceptive as well as receptive behaviors in female hamsters.     

Musculinization and defeminization induced in female hamsters by neonatal treatment with estradiol, RU-2858, and nafoxidine

Newborn female hamsters were treated with 0.1 or 1.0 ng of estradiol benzoate (EB), with 1.0 ng–2.0 μg of the synthetic estrogen RU-2858, or with 0.1 or 0.5 μg of the antiestrogen nafoxidine. When adult the animals were treated with EB and progesterone and tested for the display of lordosis and with testosterone propionate and tested for the display of mounting behavior. The EB doses used failed to alter sexual differentiation. RU-2858 masculinized and defeminized in a dose-dependent manner being most effective when given neonatally as two divided doses. Nafoxidine inhibited lordosis without enhancing mounting behavior. The findings support the hypothesis that estrogens may be involved in the normal sexual differentiation process.     

Efficacy of Vitamin D compounds to modulate estrogen receptor negative breast cancer growth and invasion

In estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cells such as MCF-7 cells, the anti-tumor effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (1,25D(3)) may be secondary to disruption of estrogen mediated survival signals. If so, then sensitivity to 1,25D(3) mediated growth arrest could be reduced in estrogen independent breast cancer cells. The aim of these studies was to determine the effects of 1,25D(3) and EB1089 on the ER negative, invasive human breast cancer cell line SUM-159PT. 1,25D(3) and EB1089 reduced SUM-159PT cell growth subsequent to elevation of p27 and p21 levels. 1,25D(3) mediated apoptosis of SUM-159PT cells was associated with an enrichment of membrane bound bax, a redistribution of cytochome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol and PARP cleavage. 1,25D(3) and EB1089 also inhibited SUM-159PT cell invasion through an 8 microM Matrigel membrane. In pre-clinical studies, EB1089 dramatically reduced the growth of SUM-159PT xenografts in nude mice. The decreased size of tumors from EB1089 treated mice was associated with decreased proliferation and increased DNA fragmentation. Our data support the concept that Vitamin D(3) compounds trigger apoptosis by mechanisms independent of estrogen signaling. These studies indicate that Vitamin D(3) based therapeutics may be beneficial, alone or in conjunction with other agents, for the treatment of estrogen independent breast cancer.     

Role of sex steroids in development of anxiety in female mice

Level of sex steroid hormones being changed throughout an estrous cycle influences physiological and behavioral features of female subjects. To test how estrogen and progesterone affect the anxiety level in mice the ovariectomy (OVX) followed by hormone treatment was carried out. After 1 week of recovery period estradiol benzonate (20 micrograms, s/c) was injected once a day during 7 consequent days. By the 7th day in addition to EB injection progesterone (500 micrograms, s/c) was also injected. Four hours later the mice were tested in elevated plus-maze to measure the anxiety level. Control animals were treated with sesame oil only. Behavioral data obtained demonstrate that the hormonal treatment altered anxiety state in experimental animals. In plusmaze paradigm, it has been demonstrated that progesterone-treated mice revealed the lowest level of open arm activity. In contrast, these mice showed the highest grooming activity as compared to other experimental groups. Immunohistochemical data on progesterone receptor (PR), immunoreactivity in brain have shown that the manipulation with different hormonal treatments modified the number of PR-ir cells in many brain areas. Our data suggest that sex steroid hormones play an important role in induction of anxiety level, as measured by elevated plus-maze, and this action might be partially mediated through the classical steroid receptors.     

Masculinization and defeminization induced in female hamsters by neonatal treatment with estradiol, RU-2858, and nafoxidine

Newborn female hamsters were treated with 0.1 or 1.0 ng of estradiol benzoate (EB), with 1.0 ng–2.0 μg of the synthetic estrogen RU-2858, or with 0.1 or 0.5 μg of the antiestrogen nafoxidine. When adult the animals were treated with EB and progesterone and tested for the display of lordosis and with testosterone propionate and tested for the display of mounting behavior. The EB doses used failed to alter sexual differentiation. RU-2858 masculinized and defeminized in a dose-dependent manner being most effective when given neonatally as two divided doses. Nafoxidine inhibited lordosis without enhancing mounting behavior. The findings support the hypothesis that estrogens may be involved in the normal sexual differentiation process.