Methods for 17β-oestradiol administration to rats

Ida-Maria Isaksson, Annette Theodorsson, Elvar Theodorsson, Jakob O. Strom

Several studies indicate that the beneficial or harmful effects of oestrogens in stroke are dose-dependent. Rats are amongst the most frequently used animals in these studies, which calls for thoroughly validated methods for administering 17β-oestradiol to rats. In an earlier study we characterised three different administration methods for 17β-oestradiol over 42 days. The present study assesses the concentrations in a short time perspective, with the addition of a novel peroral method. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomised and administered 17β-oestradiol by subcutaneous injections, silastic capsules, pellets and orally (in the nut-cream Nutella(®)), respectively. One group received 17β-oestradiol by silastic capsules without previous washout time. Blood samples were obtained after 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 168 hours and serum 17β-oestradiol (and oestrone sulphate in some samples) was subsequently analysed. For long-term characterisation, one group treated perorally was blood sampled after 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days. At sacrifice, uterine horns were weighed and subcutaneous tissue samples were taken for histological assessment. The pellets, silastic capsule and injection groups produced serum 17β-oestradiol concentrations that were initially several orders of magnitude higher than physiological levels, while the peroral groups had 17β-oestradiol levels that were within the physiological range during the entire experiment. The peroral method is a promising option for administering 17β-oestradiol if physiological levels or similarity to women's oral hormone therapy are desired. Uterine weights were found to be a very crude measure of oestrogen exposure.