Acute administration of high doses of estrogen increases glucose utilization throughout brain.

The effects of high intravenous doses of estradiol benzoate on local cerebral glucose utilization were studied by the [14C]2-deoxyglucose method in conscious ovariectomized adult rats. Statistically significant increases in glucose utilization averaging 20% were observed in 42 of 60 anatomically discrete regions of the estrogen-treated animals. The possible role of catechol estrogen, a potent inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase, in these effects is considered.