Abstract
Ovarian steroids affect the food intake and body weight of rats. These effects are probably mediated by estradiol and progesterone, since these 2 hormones are more effective than their principal metabolites (estrone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione, respectively) in altering the food intake and body weight of ovariectomized rats. Estradiol seems to affect food intake by lowering the set point about which body weight is regulated in a dose-dependent fashion. These actions of estradiol can be attenuated or completely blocked by concurrent injections of progesterone. Estradiol-treated ovariectomized rats are far more responsive to the weight- and appetite-promoting actions of progesterone than are ovariectomized-adrenalectomized rats, suggesting that the principal action of progesterone on energy balance may be to interfere with the effects of estradiol.

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