Figure 2. Effect of ovariectomy, progesterone, oestradiol and ICI 182,780 on paracellular permeability.
FITC-dextran flux measurements for 1 h in Ussing chambers in colon segments from sham operated rats (sham oestrus), and ovariectomized rats treated for 5 days with empty s.c. implants (OVX) or with implants filled with P (OVX+P) or EB (OVX+EB) or EB with daily s.c. injection of the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 (2 mg (kg BW)−1 day−1) (OVX+EB+ICI). Bars are means ±s.e.m. P < 0.001, ANOVA; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. sham oestrus, aP < 0.001 vs. OVX or P group of rats; ns: not significant (Bonferroni post hoc test).