Uterine glutathione reductase activity: modulation by estrogens and progesterone.
Life Sci
; 65(23): 2481-8, 1999 Oct 29.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10622232
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine whether glutathione reductase activity in uterine tissue is regulated by sex hormones. In spayed rats uterine glutathione reductase was significantly increased by exogenous estrogen (P< 0.01), progesterone (P< 0.01) or estrogen plus progesterone (P<0.01). When enzyme activity is expressed per mg protein, daily administration of estrogen or progesterone induces a progressive increase of this enzyme between 24 to 48 h or 24 to 72 h of treatment, respectively. Whereas the combination of both steroids causes an earlier and higher increase in glutathione reductase activity at 24 h of treatment. Estradiol singly or in combination with progesterone induced the highest protein concentration in the uterus. Whereas uterine DNA concentration is only significantly affected by estradiol. Our results suggest that uterine glutathione reductase is regulated by estradiol and progesterone and may be involved in maintaining levels of reduced glutathione in the uterus. This compound may be required for control of the redox state of thiol groups and in detoxification reactions involving H2O2 and electrophylic substances. The antioxidant action of estrogens is partially due to the stimulation of glutathione reductase.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Progesterone
/
Uterus
/
Estradiol
/
Glutathione Reductase
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Life Sci
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article