Effect of sex hormones on copper, zinc, iron nutritional status and hepatic lipid peroxidation in rats

Abstract

Sex dependence of copper, zinc, iron nutritional status and hepatic lipid peroxidation was studied in gonadectomized, hormone substituted and sham-operated male and female rats. The experiment was performed on H-Wistar rats (106 +/- 10 g) fed conventional laboratory food ad libitum for 12 weeks. The estrogen dependence of copper status is fully confirmed by the results of this study. In hormonally active females the malondialdehyde production was depressed which is supposed to be connected with high copper and low triglyceride levels in the liver. The anaemia observed in estrogen substituted rats may be a result of lower lipid peroxidation rate. The levels of retinol and alkaline phosphatase activity in sera are probably influenced by estrogen action. It is suggested that testosterone leads to acceleration of lipid peroxidation.

Effects of Testosterone on Lipid Peroxidation, Lipid Profiles and some Coagulation Parameters in Rabbits*

“…In our study, the administration of testosterone to rabbits resulted in elevated MDA level in plasma ( P < 0.05). This results in agreement with that of Wachnik et al. (1993), who reported that testosterone accelerated the hepatic LPO in rats.…”

“…However, the exact role of testosterone and their relationship with oxidative processes such as lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the progression of atherosclerosis remains unclear. Wachnik et al. (1993) have shown that testosterone had a marked prooxidant effect, activating LPO in the liver of male rats.…”

Macular thickness measurements in healthy Norwegian volunteers: an optical coherence tomography study

“…We found gender differences in MMT in almost all macular areas in younger but not in older subjects, which suggest that the sexual dimorphism of the human retina may depend on gonadal hormone levels. Indeed, estrogen receptors seem to protect the retina against age-inflicted injury [ 23 , 24 ], partly by inhibiting lipid peroxidation [ 15 , 63 , 64 ]. Exposure to endogenous oestrogens has been associated with lower risk for EAMD [ 18 , 19 ], and exogenous estrogens seem to protect against late age-related degeneration [ 14 ].…”

Association between sex, systemic iron variation and probability of Parkinson's disease

“…Increased levels of testosterone have been reported to be associated with lower levels of ferritin [34]. Moreover, estrogens increase levels of Cu through Cp [35] and also have effects on Fe status. Estrogens directly contribute to Fe homeostasis by regulating hepatic hepcidin expression through estrogens response elements (ERE) in the promoter region of the hepcidin gene.…”