Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate differences between estrogen replacement therapy initiated either 4 or 12 days after ovariectomy on the synaptic density of the hippocampal CA1 field in rats.
Design
Female, adult, Wistar rats were ovariectomized bilaterally under ether anesthesia and divided among the following groups: 1) estrogen (conjugated equine estrogen 50 μg in 0.5 mL of propylene glycol, daily, p.o. gavage, for 60 days), starting 4 days after ovariectomy (n = 5); 2) propylene glycol (0.5 mL daily, p.o. gavage, for 60 days), starting 4 days after ovariectomy (n = 4); 3) estrogen (conjugated equine estrogen 50 μg in 0.5 mL of propylene glycol, daily, p.o. gavage, for 45 days), starting 12 days after ovariectomy (n = 3); 4) propylene glycol (0.5 mL daily, p.o. gavage, for 45 days), starting 12 days after ovariectomy (n = 3). At the end of the treatment, the rats were processed for electron microscopy and light analysis.
Results
Synaptic density in all of the CA1 strata subjected to evaluation was significantly higher in animals in which estrogen replacement was initiated 4 days after ovariectomy as compared with controls. In contrast, initiation of treatment after a 12-day interval did not result in recovery of synaptic density in any of the CA1 strata and was significantly lower than that of the animals subjected to hormone replacement after a 4-day delay (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
The delay for hormone replacement therapy might have critical implications for modulating synaptic density.
