Figure 3. Dose effect of oestradiol on paracellular permeability in OVX rats and involvement of ERα and ERβ.

A, dose–response study of oestradiol benzoate (EB, 1 μg to 5 mg (kg BW)⁻¹ day⁻¹ for 5 days, s.c.) on paracellular FITC-dextran flux measured for 1 h in colon segments mounted in Ussing chambers. Values are means ±s.e.m. of triplicate measurements in 5–8 rats per group (P < 0.05, ANOVA). B, effects of a 5 day treatment with the selective ligand agonist for ERα (PPT, 4 mg (kg BW)⁻¹ day⁻¹, s.c.), ERβ (DPN, 4 mg (kg BW)⁻¹ day⁻¹, s.c.) on colonic paracellular permeability in Ussing chambers. OVX rats treated with vehicle DMSO in olive oil (Ve) were used as controls. Values are means ±s.e.m. of triplicate measurements in 7 rats per group. **P < 0.01 and ns (not significant) vs. Ve.