| Abstract: | Morphological and behavioral responses to estradiol-17 beta (E2-17 beta) and estradiol-17 alpha (E2-17 alpha) were examined in a series of three experiments. The E2-17 beta augmented uterine growth in hamsters to a greater extent than did E2-17 alpha. Lordosis in ovariectomized adults was elicited by treatment with E2-17 beta but not with E2-17 alpha (each tested in combination with progesterone). When administered neonatally only E2-17 beta disrupted estrous cyclicity in the intact female and induced the ability to mount in ovariectomized, androgen-treated adults. These results suggest the existence of a stereospecific response to estrogenic stimulation in neural tissue comparable with that occurring in the uterus. |
