Figure 4: Body weight of ovariectomized rats that received a pellet implant with or without estradiol. Ovariectomized rats that received a pellet implant that contained (A) cholesterol (placebo), (B) 3 mg estradiol/cholesterol and (C) 4 mg estradiol/cholesterol. The bilateral removal of ovaries increased the change of body weight significantly (p<0.0001) in comparison to animals treated with estradiol, according to one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey- Kramer multiple comparisons test. Estradiol replacement by pellets was effective in preventing the increase in body weight observed in the placebo group. Changes in body weight were similar between the groups that received 3 or 4 mg pellet of estradiol (n=8 for each group). Each plot represents one animal.