Effect of intraventricular administration of catechol estrogens on catecholamine content in various brain regions.

Male rats treated for 7 days with either 2-hydroxyestradiol, 4-hydroxyestradiol or 2-hydroxyestrone had significantly lower striatal dihydroxy phenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels when compared to the control group. After 14 days of treatment, groups which were treated with estradiol, 2-hydroxyestradiol or 4-hydroxyestradiol had significantly higher striatal dopamine levels and had gained significantly less weight when compared to the control group. These results indicate that estradiol and the catechol estrogens may act to reduce the activity of striatal dopaminergic neurons.