Targeting Estrogen to the Brain via DHED does not seem to Protect Against Metabolic Dysfunction in Obese OVX Mice.

Authors

Celine Camon, Elodie Kip, Rebecca Lord, Caroline Decourt, Mel Prescott, Jenny Clarkson, Norma P Sandoval, Paul B Vander, J Edward Van Veen, Katalin Prokai-Tatrai, Stephanie M Correa, Rebecca E Campbell, Michael Garratt

Published in

Endocrinology. Sep 01, 2026. Epub Sep 01, 2026.

Abstract

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is prescribed for climacteric symptoms including hot flushes and weight gain and contains estrogens such as 17 beta-estradiol (17βE2). However, estrogen receptor activation by MHT may increase reproductive cancers in some people. As the protective metabolic effects of 17βE2 are partly mediated through the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus, restricting 17βE2 actions to the brain could serve as a safer mechanism of MHT. 10β,17β-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one (DHED) is a prodrug which is enzymatically converted into 17βE2 exclusively within the brain. DHED has already demonstrated positive benefit in rodent models of hot flushes and cognitive decline, while avoiding peripheral hormonal burden. Therefore, we hypothesized that DHED treatment in obese female mice would act within the hypothalamus to provide the same beneficial metabolic effects as 17βE2. Female mice were ovariectomized, placed on a high fat diet and split into either control, 17βE2 or DHED treatment groups. Body weight, uterine weight, glucose tolerance and peripheral concentrations of luteinizing hormone were recorded, along with the expression of the progesterone receptor and kisspeptin mRNA within the ARC. Delivery of DHED at a similar dose as 17βE2 failed to improve metabolic parameters or recapitulate the hypothalamic responses induced by 17βE2. Our findings subqeuently show that delivery of DHED at higher doses elicited estrogen-like actions within the brain, but still failed to improve metabolic health. Additional investigations surrounding DHED's conversion to17βE2 within the hypothalamus are warranted to conclude whether estradiol actions exclusively within the CNS can independently regulate protective effects on metabolism.

PMID:
42678760
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Sep 2026.

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