Changes in hippocampal function of ovariectomized rats after sequential low doses of estradiol to simulate the preovulatory estrogen surge.

In adult female rats, robust hippocampal changes occur when estradiol rises on the morning of proestrus. Whether estradiol mediates these changes, however, remains unknown. To address this issue, we used sequential injections of estradiol to simulate two key components of the preovulatory surge: the rapid rise in estradiol on proestrous morning, and the slower rise during the preceding day, diestrus 2.

Seizure susceptibility in intact and ovariectomized female rats treated with the convulsant pilocarpine.

Despite numerous neuroendocrinological studies of seizures, the influence of estrogen and progesterone on seizures and epilepsy remains unclear. This may be due to the fact that previous studies have not systematically compared distinct endocrine conditions and included all relevant controls. The goal of the present study was to conduct such a study using pilocarpine as chemoconvulsant.

Inhibition of metastasis by inhibition of tumor-derived CCL5.

To determine whether tumor-derived CCL5 contributes to the metastatic potential of murine mammary carcinoma, we used the 4T1 tumor which spontaneously metastasizes and constitutively produces CCL5. Mice bearing 4T1 that expressed less CCL5 had significantly fewer lung and liver metastasis. The decrease in tumor-derived CCL5 also correlated with decreased cathepsin L, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-10 and MMP-17 gene expression.