Effect of Estrogen and Estrogen-like Compounds on Atherosclerosis in Cholesterol Fed Cockerels

Coronary and aortic atherosclerosis were studied in white leghorn cockerels fed an atherogenic diet and treated with parenteral estradiol benzoate or synthetic estrogen compounds of lower feminizing potency. The estradiol benzoate gave the expected feminization and protection against coronary atherosclerosis and enhanced thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. The 2 iodo-estrone acetate gave some suggested protection to the coronary vasculature, but was not clearly different from the other analogues in this respect. The 2 iodo-estrone enhanced aortic atherosclerosis and was significantly different in this effect from the other analogues. These observations suggest that the effects on atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries and aorta are mediated through molecular configurations different from those mediating feminization.