The effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone and 17β-estradiol on the skin of ovariectomized rats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: 20-hydroxyecdysone has numerous favorable effects on a variety of organs, including the skin, where it improves wound healing. It is devoid of estrogenic and androgenic effects. Therefore, application of 20-hydroxyecdysone might be a new approach to improve skin conditions in postmenopausal women, and this was investigated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS: After ovariectomy, rats received Ecd (18, 57, or 116 mg/animal/day) or 17β-estradiol (E₂)-3-benzoate (60 μg/kg body weight) in food for 12 weeks, and skin samples were evaluated histologically to quantify two dermal layers, the subcutaneous fat and muscle layers. RESULTS: Epidermal thickness was lowest in the OVX animals, slightly higher in the E₂-treated animals, and significantly higher in the Ecd-treated animals. Dermal thickness was lowest in the intact and E₂-treated animals and highest in the Ecd-treated animals. The subcutaneous fat layer was thickest in the OVX animals, thinner in the intact animals, and intermediate in the Ecd-treated animals. The muscle layer was smallest in the OVX and intact animals and significantly larger in the E₂- and Ecd-treated animals. The number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibody-positive cells was lowest in OVX controls and significantly higher in all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The Ecd-induced increases in epidermal and dermal thickness are suggestive of functional changes of the skin. The decreased amounts of subcutaneous fat in the E₂- and Ecd-treated animals point to either a fat catabolic or an antianabolic effect. The ovariectomy-induced decrease in subcutaneous musculature was prevented by Ecd but not by E₂. The stimulatory effects of Ecd on epidermal and dermal thickness and the muscle-increasing effects in the skin of OVX rats may indicate functional changes of the skin.
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Subcutaneous fat layer thickness was intermediate in the 20E-treated group compared to control and E2 groups.
“However, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer was intermediate in the 20E-treated group compared to the other two groups.”
From Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action: Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Anti-Aging Compound? (2025) · cites this paper as [30]
Muscle thickness was larger in both 20E- and E2-treated rats.
“The muscle thickness was larger in both 20E- and E2-treated rats.”
From Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action: Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Anti-Aging Compound? (2025) · cites this paper as [30]
Epidermal and dermal layers became thicker in 20E-treated rats than in control and β-oestradiol-treated OVX rats.
“The epidermal and dermal layers became thicker in 20E-treated rats than in control and β-oestradiol (E2)-treated OVX rats [30].”
From Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action: Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Anti-Aging Compound? (2025) · cites this paper as [30]
In quinoa-seed extract, PEs have adaptogenic activity on postmenopausal syndrome.
“In quinoa-seed extract, PEs have adaptogenic activity on postmenopausal syndrome [164].”
From Phytoecdysteroids: Distribution, Structural Diversity, Biosynthesis, Activity, and Crosstalk with Phytohormones (2022) · cites this paper as [164]
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- Authors
- Ehrhardt, C., Wessels, J. T., Wuttke, W., & Seidlová-Wuttke, D.
- Affiliations
- Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Wuttke, Wolfgang
- Venue
- Menopause
- Published
- 2011-03
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 323-327
- ISSN
- 1072-3714 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2037256095
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Menopause The Journal of The North American Menopause Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- GRO (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Keywords
- 20-hydroxyecdysone, estradiol, ovariectomy, epidermal thickness, skin thickness, subcutaneous adipose tissue, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, skin aging, menopause
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Body Weight, Diet, Ecdysterone, Epidermis, Estradiol, Female, Muscles, Ovariectomy, Skin, Skin Physiological Phenomena, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen, Subcutaneous Tissue, Subcutaneous Fat, Rats
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