Biphasic effects of the natural estrogen 17β-estradiol on hepatic cholesterol metabolism in intact female rats

The protective influence of estrogens in cardiovascular disease is believed to be partly due to beneficial effects on cholesterol metabolism. Much of the experimental data are based on models in which synthetic estrogens have been used in pharmacological doses, and therefore, the physiological role of estrogens in cholesterol metabolism is uncertain. To evaluate this important issue, we performed experiments in intact female rats with use of the natural estrogen 17 beta-estradiol (E2) administered either subcutaneously or orally. After physiological doses of E2 (less than or equal to 0.04 mg(.)kg(-1.)d(-1)) were administered, plasma levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I were increased. In the liver, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activities were increased, as well as cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase mRNA levels, These effects were abolished during treatment with higher doses of E2, whereas apo A-I mRNA increased in a dose-dependent way. After treatment with pharmacological doses of E2 (greater than or equal to 0.2 mg(.)kg(-1.)d(-1)), the number of hepatic low density lipoprotein receptors increased and plasma cholesterol was reduced. These effects were similar after both oral and subcutaneous administration of E2, Our results show that the responses to E2 are biphasic: plasma HDL, apo A-I, and hepatic enzyme activities governing bile acid and cholesterol synthesis increased only at physiological doses of E2. At pharmacological doses of E2, hepatic low density lipoprotein receptors are stimulated and plasma cholesterol is reduced. Therefore, under physiological conditions, E2 exerts its major effects on hepatic cholesterol metabolism through mechanisms other than stimulation of low density lipoprotein receptor expression.