Objectives: Menopausal women suffer from various menopausal symptoms due to estrogen deficiency caused by the decline of ovarian function. Estrogen plays a key role in regulating body metabolism in women. Its effects on skeletal muscle metabolism, however, need to be elucidated. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and/or running exercise on skeletal muscle metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) mice.Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice were divided into five groups: sham operated, OVX, OVX with running, OVX with E2, and OVX with running and E2. The estrous cycle, body weight, and body composition of the mice were monitored after the operation. The animals were sacrificed after treatment for 7 weeks. The serum and tissue samples were collected.Results: The results showed increased fat mass, reduced lean mass, impaired mitochondrial function, and inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway in skeletal muscle of OVX mice. The treatment of OVX mice with E2 and running had better effects on ameliorating these impairments than running exercise or E2 alone.Conclusions: The combined intervention of E2 and running exercise ameliorated energy metabolism of skeletal muscle and body composition in OVX mice, which exceled over E2 treatment or running exercise alone.
Keywords: Ovariectomized mice; energy metabolism; estrogen; running; skeletal muscle.