Estrogen replacement therapy decreases some risk factors of the metabolic syndrome but increases the risk of some types of cancer. Tibolone (TIB) has shown similar neuroprotective effects as estrogens. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TIB on metabolic parameters and the expression of sex hormone receptors in the CNS in ovariectomised rats fed with a hypercaloric diet.

Sprague-Dawley female rats were ovariectomised and fed for 30 days with a standard diet (SD) or high-fat high-fructose diet (HFFD) and treated with TIB (1 mg/kg) or vehicle. At the end of the treatments, HFFD increased body weight, glucose tolerance, triglycerides and cholesterol levels, while TIB treatment decreased these parameters.

Subsequently, the hippocampus, the hypothalamus and the frontal cortex were dissected. RT-PCR was performed for progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERα, ERβ), insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). HFFD altered the expression of sex hormone receptors in specific brain structures involved in the regulation of homeostasis and cognition, which highlights the importance of a healthy diet. In turn, TIB modulated the expression of these receptors, particularly in the hypothalamus.

雌激素替代疗法可降低代谢综合征的一些风险因素，但会增加某些类型癌症的风险。替勃龙 (TIB) 已显示出与雌激素类似的神经保护作用。本研究旨在评估 TIB 对高热量饮食喂养的去卵巢大鼠的代谢参数和中枢神经系统中性激素受体表达的影响。

Sprague-Dawley 雌性大鼠被切除卵巢并用标准饮食 (SD) 或高脂肪高果糖饮食 (HFFD) 喂养 30 天，并用 TIB (1 mg/kg) 或载体治疗。在治疗结束时，HFFD 增加了体重、葡萄糖耐量、甘油三酯和胆固醇水平，而 TIB 治疗降低了这些参数。

随后，解剖海马、下丘脑和额叶皮层。对孕酮受体（PR）、雄激素受体（AR）、雌激素受体α和β（ERα、ERβ）、胰岛素受体（IR）和胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF-1）进行RT-PCR。HFFD 改变了参与体内平衡和认知调节的特定大脑结构中性激素受体的表达，这凸显了健康饮食的重要性。反过来，TIB 调节这些受体的表达，特别是在下丘脑。