Fig. 3

Effects of estradiol replacement and withdrawal in ovariectomized rats on CSD susceptibility. A Plasma concentrations of β-estradiol after a single intraperitoneal injection (left panel) and once-daily intraperitoneal injection (right panel) of 50 μg/kg/day β-estradiol-3-benzoate. Samples were collected at indicated times after the last dose. B Experimental timeline shows the treatment protocol with once-daily intraperitoneal injections in ovariectomized rats. Representative DC potentials from DC1 and DC2 recording sites show recurrent CSDs triggered by topical 1 M KCl application onto the occipital cortex, as shown in Fig. 1. CSD frequency, speed, duration, and amplitude are shown for ovariectomized rats after 3 weeks of vehicle treatment (Ovx + V, n = 12), ovariectomized rats after 3 weeks of 50 μg/kg/day β-estradiol-3-benzoate treatment (Ovx + E, n = 6) and ovariectomized rats treated with 50 μg/kg/day β-estradiol-3-benzoate for 2 weeks followed by withdrawal (Ovx + E/W, n = 6)