Estrogen receptor beta mediates the dipsogenic effect of estradiol in ovariectomized female rats.

These results demonstrate that the dipsogenic effect is mediated by ERβ, the fluid enhancing effects of estradiol generalize to saline, and is limited to females, which implies that a feminized brain is necessary for estradiol to increase water intake. These findings will aid in guiding future studies focused on elucidating the neuronal mechanisms that allow estradiol to both increase and decrease fluid intake.