The Effect of Estrogen and Progesterone on Genital Tract Weight and Glycogen Content in Ovariectomized Guinea Pigs

INTRODUCTION +1131This review covers only a small part of what has recently become an enormous literature on hormonal regulation of the fe male reproductive tract. We used the fo llowing guidelines in selecting papers fo r review: 1. The reproductive tract is exposed to varying levels of sex steroids during the menstrual and estrous cycles. With the advent of radioimmunoassay techniques, these patterns are now known more precisely than at any previous time. 2. The steroids are concentrated in the target cells of the tract by mechanisms that. because of recent findings in steroid receptor interactions, are more fu lly understood than ever before. Here we pay particular attention to reports of fluctuations in receptor levels during reproductive cycles and pregnancy and to the correlation between such changes and the fluctuat ing levels of steroids in plasma. 3. Within the target cells, the steroids interact with the cell machinery to produce multiple effects. This is the frontier of the modern research effort on hormone actions; the potential fo r future success here is enor mous. So far, however, species and organ differences have thwarted attempts to define any universal principles of hormone action, although evidence is accumulat ing in favor of the idea that one of the key endpoints of steroid hormone action is the production of specific RNA molecules.As to our method of selecting reports to review, we have chosen those that illustrate the interactions between estrogens and progestins in regulating the growth and fu nction of the tract, that point to the complexity of these interactions, and that serve as guidelines fo r fu ture study. No attempt was made to be comprehensive. Some emphasis has been placed on the reproductive tract of primates because of our special interests. Further ANNUAL REVIEWS 274BRENNER & WEST Additional information is available in a recently published series of definitive reviews concerned with various aspects of endocrine control of the fe male reproduc tive system (66). These include the effects of steroid hormones on uterine metabo lism (20S); endocrine control of implantation (IS3); the overall role of hormones in pregnancy (76, 16 1); various aspects of the biosynthesis, metabolism, and uterine binding of estrogens (42, 61, 178, 18S); the biosynthesis, metabolism, and physiologi cal role of progesterone (3S, .59, 104, 14S); the effects of hormones on the anatomy and physiology of the cervix (63, 128); and the biological effects of oral contraceptive steroids (168). STEROID LEVELS DURING REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES Menstrual CyclesESTROGENS The cyclic pattern of estrogen secretion in nonhuman primates has been investigated in the rhesus monkey (11)(12)(13)(14)78, 8S, 86,100, IS7,207), cynomol gus monkeys (163), bonnet macaques (120), baboons (186), and chimpanzees (6S). It is generally agreed that in the rhesus monkey the level of estradiol (E2Pm peripheral plasma during the early fo llicular phase (days 1-8) is "'SO pg/ml, and that about 4 days before the luteinizing hormone (LH) peak there...

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“…In the spayed guinea pig, uterine glycogen is unaffected by estrogen, either with or without progesterone (67).…”

Section: Hormonal Effects On the Uterus Cervix And Vaginamentioning

confidence: 96%

Hormonal Regulation of the Reproductive Tract in Female Mammals

Brenner¹,

West²

1975

Annu. Rev. Physiol.

162

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“…Glycogen is the major constituent and an energy metabolism marker [32]. Ovariectomy and ovarian hormones are reported to have an adverse effect on glycogen levels in female reproductive tract [33][34][35][36]. Therefore, the effect of MTX, LCN and steroid hormones was also investigated on glycogen levels in the current study.…”

Section: Estrogen and Progesteronementioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Methotrexate and Leucovorin on Hormonal Regulated Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Accessory Reproductive Tissues of Ovariectomized Rats

Karri¹

2012

Transl Med

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Background: Female reproductive tract cells are fast proliferating like cancer cells. Methotrexate (MTX), an anticancer drug when used to treat non-neoplastic diseases in young women results in deleterious effects leading to infertility. Oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina depend on ovary for their structural and functional sustenance. Ovarian ablation followed by chemotherapy in premenopausal women is a common practice in the treatment of cancer. Hence, methotrexate effect on reproductive organs in Ovariectomized (OVX) rats was investigated. Objective: To reveal the direct influence of MTX on estradiol and progesterone in OVX rats. Also, the protective role of leucovorin (LCN) an antidote to MTX, estradiol (E219) and progesterone (P) replacement was investigated. Methods: Animals were randomly divided into the following groups (n=6): group 1: OVX, group 2: OVX+MTX, group 3: OVX+MTX+LCN, group 4: OVX+E2, OVX+MTX+LCN+E222, group 5: OVX+P, group 6: OVX+MTX+LCN+P, treated once/day intramuscularly (im) for 4 days and sacrificed on day 5. At the end of the experiment reproductive 24 tract tissues oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina were used for total protein, glycogen, Glucose-6-Phosphate26 Dehydrogenase (G6PD), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activities. Results: MTX treatment reduced protein, glycogen, G6PD, LDH and ALP activities in oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina of OVX rats. However, LCN supplementation was partially protective on some enzymes, which was tissue dependent. Hormonal replacement improved protein and enzyme levels in all the tissues. Estradiol treatment showed a distinct enhancement over progesterone in elevating such levels. However, MTX and LCN in a combination treatment with steroids reversed the activities of enzymes in all the tissues. Conclusion: The results suggest that MTX severely affects protein, glycogen, G6PD, LDH and ALP levels in accessory reproductive organs of OVX rats. These studies conclude that in premenopausal women ovarian ablation and chemotherapy affect the accessory reproductive tissues, consequently distressing their quality of life.

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