Publications by authors named "Joanna Westerfield"
17β-Estradiol is known to regulate energy metabolism and body weight. Ovariectomy results in body weight gain while estradiol administration results in a reversal of weight gain. Isoflavones, found in rodent chow, can mimic estrogenic effects making it crucial to understand the role of these compounds on metabolic regulation.
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- Phytoestrogens, particularly isoflavones found in rodent diets, mimic estrogen and can disrupt endocrine functions by influencing estrogen receptors.
- In ovariectomized (OVX) rats, the presence of isoflavones altered the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2), showing that E2 caused anxiety when isoflavones were included, but reduced anxiety when they weren't.
- Additionally, E2 promoted antidepressant-like behaviors and increased BDNF expression in the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus only when isoflavones were part of the diet, highlighting their role in modulating hormonal effects on behavior.