Radiological determination of changes in bone mineral content

It is possible to obtain reliable data of changes in bone mineral content using simple radiographic techniques. Methods available include morphometry and densitometry. Of these morphometry of the third metacarpal is most accurate in our hands and cortical width is the most reliable of such morphometric data. Densitometry produces more variable results and shows no advantage over straight measurement of cortical width. The only acceptable alternative method of obtaining information about bone status is photon absorptiometry. Results of these methods are shown in a trial of oestrogen therapy for the prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis. The data suggest that oestrogens prevent post menopausal bone loss when this is estimated by measurement of cortical width or photonabsorptiometry.

Effect of low zinc intake and oral contraceptive agents on nitrogen utilization and clinical findings in young women

In a previous paper we reported that serum, urine and fecal zinc levels fell markedly in women taking a combination oral contraceptive agent (+OCA) and in women with normal menstrual cycles (-OCA) when they consumed a low-zinc diet (less than 0.2 mg/day) for 35 days. We evaluated other biochemical and clinical data in order to determine if depletion of accessible body zinc and/or physiologic adjustment to conserve body zinc stores had occurred. Neither low zinc intake nor oral contraceptive use appeared to influence nitrogen balance or body weight. Use of contraceptive drugs appeared to influence the response of blood parameters to zinc depletion. Serum transferrin and cholesterol declined significantly in the -OCA group, whereas alkaline phosphatase and gamma-globulin changed significantly in both groups. Clinical problems developed in all the subjects with serum zinc levels below 50 microgram/dl during the study; three of the six with serum zinc levels above 50 microgram/dl also complained of clinical symptoms. The results suggest that zinc deficiency through depletion of accessible body zinc stores developed during the 35-day study.

Renin-renin substrate kinetic constants in the plasma of normal and estrogen-treated humans

The renin-renin substrate Michaelis constant (Km) and maximal velocity (Vmax) were determined in the plasmas of normal subjects. The mean Km was 0.7 microgram/ml. Under these conditions, the in vitro reaction of renin with physiologic concentrations of renin substrate will proceed at only 70% of its maximal velocity. Following estrogen administration, Km doubled to a value of 1.3 microgram/ml. Vmas increased by 81%. Analysis of the changes induced in the in vitro reaction velocity demonstrated that estrogen-induced acceleration of the renin reaction is dependent upon both an increase in renin substrate concentration as well as an increase in Vmas. The latter appears to be quantitatively more important. These findings suggest the emergence of modifying factors in the renin-renin substrate interaction following estrogen administration.

Effect of hormone replacement therapy on glucose tolerance in postmenopausal women

Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on 50 symptomatic postmenopausal women before and after three months of hormone replacement therapy. All patients were randomly allocated to one of five groups treated with various synthetic or so-called naturally occurring oestrogens. Therapy produced a significant deterioration of carbohydrate tolerance with sequential preparations containing 100 microgram of ethinyl oestradiol or graduated doses of mestranol up to 50 microgram. The conjugated equine oestrogen (1.25 mg daily) and oestrogen valerate (2 mg daily) treated groups did not show abnormal glucose tolerance. The decreased glucose tolerance may be due as much to dosage levels as to any metabolic characteristics of the various oestrogens prescribed.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2 - and 4- hydroxymestranol

The synthesis of 2-hydroxy and 4-hydroxymestranol by oxidation of mestranol with m-chloroperbenzoic acid is described. The oral estrogenicity and contragestational activity of these and related catechol estrogen derivatives in the rat is also presented.

Free testosterone concentration in serum: elevation is the hallmark of hirsutism

A simple, reliable procedure for quantitating the concentration of free (not protein bound and thus biologically active) testosterone in serum has been applied to normal and hirsute patients. Each of 32 hirsute women studied had a significantly elevated level of free testosterone (that is, more than two standard deviations above the mean of that found in normal women), although half of them had a total serum testosterone level within normal limits. Suppression of free testosterone to within normal limits could be accomplished by dexamethasone alone in 47 per cent of the hirsute group. In the remainder of the hirsute group, suppression of free testosterone to within normal limits could be accomplished by addition of Enovid-E. Use of free serum testosterone concentration is clearly superior to the use of total serum testosterone concentration for the identification and rational therapy of simple hirsutism.

Effect of steroid contraceptive drug treatment on the catecholamine metabolism in the guinea pig central nervous system

In an attempt to establish the biochemical basis of the neurological side-effects of steroid contraceptive drugs, the effect of chronic administration of lynestrenol-mestranol, a widely employed contraceptive combination, on the catecholaminergic system of the guinea pig striatum, brainstem, and hypothalamus, was investigated. The effect of these drugs on the transformation of tyrosine into dopamine and norepinephrine was investigated after cerobroventricular injection of a tracer dose of [3,5-3H]L-tyrosine. Treatment increased the conversion of [3H]Tyrosine into [3H]norepinephrine in the lower brainstem and hypothalamus was the same in treated and control animals. These findings confirm results previously obtained in female rats.

[The effect of oral contraceptives on levels of thyroid hormone, blood coagulation and ceruloplasmin (author's transl)]

The effect of various hormonal contraceptives on the thyroid hormone level, plasmatic and thrombocytic coagulation, cholesterol and ceruloplasmin levels and the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was investigaged by the changes produced by long term cyclic estrogen-gestagen therapy on the metabolism of the organism. The free thyroxine index and the total cholesterol were within the normal range. The thyroxine binding index at 44% was above the normal level and the mean value was significantly raised. The ceruloplasmin concentration in the serum was also significantly increased. Pointers to a general hypercoagulability could not be ascertained with a statistical significance.

Comparison of ethinylestradiol and mestranol in sequential-type oral contraceptives in their effects on blood glucose and serum insulin in oral glucose tolerance tests

Forty 3-hour oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed in 10 assumedly healthy female volunteers 19 to 30 years old, each serving four times as her own control. Each subject was taking a sequential type oral contraceptive containing either 50 microgram of ethinylestradiol or 80 microgram of mestranol alternatingly in four consecutive treatment cycles. The OGTTs were performed on the 6th day of each cycle, during pure estrogen medication. Blood glucose and serum insulin values did not differ significantly under either estrogen as tested by the t-test for paired observations. Our results do not support the findings of others that mestranol has a more pronounced or even exclusively adverse effect on glucose tolerance as compared with ethinylestradiol.

Response of heart rate to acute administration of isoproterenol in rats treated chronically with norethynodrel, ethinyl estradiol, and both combined

Chronic (17 to 20 weeks) administration of ethinyl estradiol alone (36 mug/kg/day), and in combination (27 or 50 mug/kg/day) with several doses of norethynodrel (135, 165 or 233 mug/kg/day), attenuated the increase in heart rate accompanying acute SC administration of the beta-adrenergic agonist, l-isoproterenol (50 or 100 mug/kg), to female rats. Dietary administration of an oral contraceptive containing mestranol and norethynodrel (7.5 mg/kg/food) was also accompanied by an attenuated response to isoproterenol. A significant inverse linear relationship was observed between the logarithm of the dose of estrogen received by each group and either heart rate or change in heart rate measured at 10, 20 and 30 min after administration of isoproterenol. Thus, the antagonistic relationship between the dose of estrogen administered chronically and responsiveness of heart rate to a test dose of isoproterenol suggests a reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness in estrogen-treated rats.

Hemodynamic effects of oral contraceptives during exercise

The effects of a combined oral contraceptive pill on female hemodynamics during exercise were studied in 14 young, healthy women. The increase in blood volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output during exercise was significantly greater during combined oral contraceptive therapy than when the patients were not taking the pill. The use of combined oral contraceptive pills may be advantageous to the physical fitness of female athletes.

Induction of microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes by oral contraceptives in protein-malnourished rats

In order to examine effects of oral contraceptives (OC) on the microsomal drug matabolizing enzymes in a state of protein malnutrition, weanling Sprague-Dwayley female rats were fed diets containing 3.5% (low protein, LP), 26% (normal protein, NP) or 42% (high protein, HP) casein for 224 days and norethynodrel plus mestranol for the last 182 days. LP rats were smaller in body weight than NP and HP rats and the latter two groups showed depressed weight gain and hypertrophy of liver and kidney due to OC. Concentrations of microsomal proteins and cytochrome P-450 were lowered by LP diet and OC did not induce cytochrome P-450. Activity of biphenyl-4-hydroxylase was lowered in LP and HP rats compared to NP group in which activity of this enzyme was significantly decreased due to OC. The diets alone had no effect on the activity of p-nitrobenzoate reductase, however, its activity was enhanced by OC only in NP rats. LP diet caused reduction of 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronly transferase activity which was lowered by OC in NP as well as in LP rats. It is concluded that NP diet more than either LP or HP diet exposed rats to the modification of microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes by OC.

Effects of contraceptive agents on drug metabolism in various animal species

The effect on liver microsomal enzyme activity of three steroid contraceptive drug (SCD) combinations was compared in rats, mice and guinea-pigs. Lynestrenol plus mestranol, norethisterone plus mestranol and norethynodrel plus mestranol were given orally for 4 consecutive days (acute treatment) or 30 days (chronic treatment) at various doses eliciting an experimentally controlled antifertility activity which varied in its extent. In rats and mice all the combined treatments (with the exception of norethynodrel plus mestranol in mice) were active as inducers of liver microsomal enzymes. This induction seems to be mediated mainly by the progestogenic compounds. Oestrogens showed a very poor effect bordering on significance only in a few cases. No effect on liver microsomal protein or cytochrome P 450 concentration was obtained after treatment with doses capable of increasing the microsomal enzyme activity. The activity of the liver microsomal enzymes did not appear to be reduced immediately (2 h) after the last administration of the SCD given during 4 or 30 days. Contraceptive treatments at doses capable of eliciting complete antifertility activity were inactive on liver microsomal enzyme activity in guinea-pigs.

An assessment of the side effects of switching from one oral contraceptive to another

Side effects associated with three oral contraceptives were evaluated in a study in which women were switched to Norlestrin 1 from either Ovral (64 subjects) or Norinyl 1/50 (26 subjects). In the cycle prior to crossover, breast discomfort was more frequent among Norinyl users than among Ovral users. The prevalence of all other reported side effects was not significantly different for Norinyl and Ovral. The crossover to Norlestrin did not significantly change the numbers of patients reporting side effects. By the end of third Norlestrin cycle, rates of all side effects were similar for women who were switched from either Ovral or Norinyl.

Endometrial control: a comparative study of three oral contraceptives

Shortly after completing an OC cycle the relative hormonal deficit caused by discontinuing the hormones results in withdrawal bleeding. Similarly, if one or more oral contraceptive tablets are missed during a cycle, the resulting deficiency may cause breakthrough bleeding. A lower incidence of breakthrough bleeding on the day after one oral contraceptive tablet is missed and later onset of withdrawal bleeding indicate that a particular OC provides better endometrial control. These two measurements are used as indices to compare the endometrial control provided by Ovral, Norinyl 1/50, and Nortestrin 1 in a study of 480 women at the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Seattle during 1974 and 1975. An analysis of the data shows that the normal chance of breakthrough bleeding on a particular day when one oral contraceptive tablet is not missed on the previous day is 0.017, 0.022, and 0.022 for Ovral, Norinyl, Norlestrin users, but the chance on the day after a contraceptive tablet is missed increased by 13 to 16 times for each of the three OCs. Ovral provides more sustained endometrial control than Norinyl and Norlestrin, however, as indicated by its lower probability of breakthrough bleeding on the day a contraceptive tablet is missed and by its later onset of withdrawal bleeding.

[Effect of oral contraceptive on the pituitary and plasma L.H. levels and on the hypothalamic LH-RH level (author's transl)]

The effects of the oral contraceptive on the pituitary content and plasma level of LH and the hypothalamic LH-RH level were investigated in 16 adult female rabbits. The oral contraceptive preparation, Sophia-C (Norethindrone 2mg + Mestranol 0.1 mg), as administered orally by a stomach tube each day for 7 days in 8 adult female rabbits. At the end of the treatment, the rabbits were bled from the abdominal aorta into heparinized syringes and the plasma was separated. The stalk median eminences were excised. All the materials were stored in -80 degrees C until assayed. Plasma level and the pituitary content of LH and the hypothalamic LH-RH were measured by radioimmunoassay. All the dose response curved were drawn using logitlog transformation. Radioimmunoassay procedures for LH was described in detail elsewhere. Purified rabbit LH for iodination (125-I) and strandard were prepared by T. Makino and R.O. Greep, at Research Laboratories for Human Reproduction, Harvard Medical School, Boston, U.S.A. The starting B/T was 25% at the final dilution of the antibody of 1/20,000. Minimal detectable quantity was about 40 pg/tube. The 50% intercepts were approximately 460 pg/tube. Radioimmunoassay procedures for LH-RH were performed according to the method described by Arimura et al. Antiserum against synthetic LH-RH was kindly supplied to us by Drs. A. Arimura and A.V. Schally, New Orleans, U'S.A. The synthetic LH-RH was kindly supplied to us by Dr. N. Yanaihara. The starting B/T ratio was 29% at the final dilution of the antibody of I/17,500. Minimal detectable quantity was about 40pg/tube and the 50% intercepts were 150pg/tube. It has been assumed that oral contraceptive drugs exert their action by blocking the hypothalamic LH-RH, resulting in a depression of the plasma level of LH, because plasma level of LH returned to the normal level when LH-RH was administered intravenously even while oral contraceptive steroids were given continuously. However, these findings concerning the site of action of the drugs furnished only indirect evidences. The possibility of a direct inhibitary effect of these steroids on the anterior pituitary cannot be ruled out. Administration of 2mg of Norethindrone and 0.1mg of Mestranol significantly depressed both the pituitary content and the plasma level of LH. On the other hand, they significantly increased the hypothalamic LH-RH level. Those findings strongly suggested the direct action of this drug on the anterior pituitary in the female adult rabbits. Detailed mechanisms on how the hypothalamic LH-RH was increased were not known in this experiment, further investigations are now in progress.

Estrogen potencies of three new low-dose oral contraceptives

The estrogen potencies of three new oral contraceptive formulations--Brevicon, Modicon, and Lo/Ovral--were determined. Brevicon and Modicon were found to have estrogen potency equal to mestranol 50 mug and equal to or greater than Norinyl 1 + 50 and Ortho-Novuum 1 + 50. Lo/Ovral, which is identical to Ovral in the type and ratio of progestin but 40 per cent lower in drug content, could be estimated to have an estrogen potency of 0.73 relative to mestranol 50 mug and therefore, by inference, to Brevicon and Modicon.

Oral contraceptives, norethindrone and mestranol: effects on tissue levels of minerals

The study involved three levels of dietary zinc (deficient, marginal, and adequate) and four hormonal conditions; namely, no steriods, norethindrone, mestranol, and norethindrone plus mestranol. The steroids were incorporated into diets and fed to 11-wk-old female Sprague-Dawley rats. After 10 wk of treatment, various tissues were excised for mineral assays by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. Both steroids, reduced weight gain. Mestranol depressed plasma zinc, tibia copper and magnesium, and liver iron, but elevated the zinc levels in liver and erythrocytes, plasma copper, liver magnesium and calcium, and iron content of tibia and heart. In general, the effect was most prominent with adequate zinc but diminished in magnitude with the reduction of zinc intake. In addition, norethindrone increased heart iron and tibia calcium. Mestranol appeared to be the main causative factor and may have induced a possible shift of minerals from one pool to another. As expected, zinc deficiency resulted in the reduction of zinc concentrations of plasma, tibia, kidney, and pancreas, and the elevation of copper, iron, magnesium, and calcium concentrations of various tissues.

Response of the binding capacity of plasma testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin to norethindrone, 2 mg., and mestranol, 0.1 mg., in polycystic ovarian disease

The binding capacity of plasma testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin (TeBG) and testosterone (T) levels were measured in four women with proved polycystic ovaries and three women with a clinical diagnosis of polycystic ovarian disease before, during, and after administration of norethindrone, 2 mg., and mestranol, 0.1 mg. (N + M)...

Glucose tolerance and insulin release, a mathematical approach. II. Approximation of the peripheral insulin resistance after oral glucose loading

A parameter of peripheral insulin activity (A = 10(4)/IpGp) can be obtained after oral glucose loading by simple calcuation using insulin and glucose levels at the glucose peak. In combination with a glucose-independent parameter of beta-cell function (CIR = 100. I/G(G-70) a parameter of glucose tolerance (GT = A-CIR) is defined. The parameters allow one to separate the contributions of beta-cell function and peripheral insulin resistance to the glucose tolerance observed after glucose loading. Examples, based on the literature and our own work, illustrate the increase of A and GT by cortisone acetate premedication as well as long-term oral contraceptive medication.

Serum prolactin concentrations in women treated with chlormadinone acetate

Serum prolactin concentrations were measured serially in eight normal women who used continuous chlormadinone acetate treatment (500 mug per day) for six months as part of an investigational new drug contraceptive study. Circulating prolactin was also measured in women using several additional oral contraceptive steroid preparations including a sequential mestranol-mestranol + chlormadinone acetate regimen. No increase in basal serum prolactin concentration was produced by chlormadinone acetate treatment, either alone or when added to estrogen therapy. These results suggest that chlormadinone acetate may not alter human mammary tissue through a prolactin mechanism.

The Stein-Leventhal syndrome: a neuropituitary disorder

Hypothalamic and pituitary gonadotropin function and responsiveness in four patients with well-documented Stein-Leventhal syndrome were studied. All patients were of reproductive age and had had menstrual disorders since menarche. Estrogen production was assessed by measuring the circulating levels of immunoreactive estradiol, by vaginal smears, and by the progestogen-induced menses test. Gonadotropin function was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in blood samples obtained at 15-minute intervals for 150 minutes. Pituitary gonadotropin reserve and responsiveness were studied by giving an intravenous bolus of synthetic LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and measuring the circulating gonadotropin levels before and after the injection.

Heparin metabolism and heparin-release lipase activity during long-term estrogen-progestin treatment

Short-term oral contraceptive therapy has been reported to decrease postheparin lipolytic activity (PHLA). Resistance to heparin has been held responsible for this effect. To test several alternative explanations, we studied both PHLA and heparin concentrations in nine control women and nine women receiving long-term estrogen-progestin therapy after they were given heparin intravenously (10 units/kg). There were no significant differences in the concentration of heparin, its rate of disappearance, or calculated space of distribution between control and treated groups. PHLA was depressed (p less than 0.05) by approximately 50% during long-term estrongen-progestin therapy. PHLA disappearance was similar in both groups. Thus, reduced PHLA in women receiving long-term oral contraceptive therapy cannot be related to altered heparin metabolism or to accelerated enzyme disappearance from plasma. Long-term estrogen-progestin administration may decrease the heparin-facilitated release of individual triglyceride hydrolase activities or enhance the affinity of enzyme binding to tissues.

A quantitative study of the pregnancy zone protein in sera of woman taking oral contraceptives

By means of a single radial immunodiffusion the concentration of "the pregnancy zone protein" (PZ) was measured in sera from women taking oral contraceptive drugs. Woman taking only 0.3 mg. of norethisterone were found not to induce measurable amounts of PZ, whereas women taking combined contraceptive drugs showed a significant rise in concentration of PZ. After six months' treatment, 1 mg. of norethisterone and 0.1 mg. of meastranol daily were found to give an average concentration of PZ amounting to 59 mg. per 100 ml., that is, approximately half of the concentration of PZ in sera from women during the last trimester of pregnancy. Different combined contraceptive pills gave rise to different concentrations of PZ.

[Effects of synthetic sex steroids on the pituitary responsiveness to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) (author's transl)]

Effects of short and long term administrations of an oral contraceptive preparation on the pituitary responses to the synthetic LH-RH were compared in the present experiment. Five normal cycling women were used as controls in the late proliferative phase. Five healty volunteers taking an oral contraceptive agent (1.0 mg norethindrone with 0.05 mg mestranol) for less than 10 cycles were served as short term group and other 4 women taking the same preparation for more than 40 cycles were studied as long term group. Volunteers in each group were kept fasting overnight and 5 ml of blood was drawn at 9 to 10 am on the day of experiment. Ten minutes after drawing blood, 200 mug synthetic LH-RH was injected subcutaneously in the late proliferative phase in the normal cycling women. According to the same procedure, women taking pills were administered LH-RH on the 7th to 12th day after the beginning of taking the first tablet in each cyle. Three ml of blood was taken at 15, 30, 60, 120 minutes and 24 hours, and serum LH and Fsh were determined by the double antibody radioimmunoassay. The 2nd IRP-HMG was used as the standard materials and expressed as mIU/ml of serum. Mean baseline serum LH and FSH concentrations were not suppressed in a short term administration of norethindrone-mestranol combination. Fifteen minutes after the subcutaneous injection of LH-RH, mean LH level was significantly elevated, and thereafter the level was not significantly changed as compared with that seen in the late proliferative phase of the cycle. Concerning the FSH response to LH-RH, a short term administration did not induce a significant rise. ...

Lack of influence of the phase of estrus cycle or treatment with steroid contraceptive drugs on cholinergic parameters in mouse and rat brain

Acetylcholine and choline levels were found not to fluctuate with the phase of the estrus cycle in the cerebral hemispheres, deincephalon and mesencephalon in the rat and mouse. Choline acetyltransferase activity was not altered in these brain areas in the mouse while in the rat there was a small but significant decrease in the cerebral hemispheres during proestrus (p less than 0.01), and in the mesencephalon during estrus (p less than 0.05), both with respect to diestrus. Chronic 30-day treatment with steroid contraceptive drug combinations (lynestrenol, 5 mg/kg+ mestranol, 0.3 mg/kg; lynestrenol, 2.5 mg/kg+ mestranol, 0.15 mg/kg; norethindrone, 4 mg/kg+ mestranol, 0.2 mg/kg; norethynodrel, 4 mg/kg+ mestranol, 0.06 mg/kg) did not alter cholinergic parameters in the brain areas of these two species except for minor changes in rare instances.

Modifications of striatal dopamine levels by steroid contraceptive drugs in mice and rats

The effect of steroid contraceptive drugs (SCDs) on the concentration of dopamine (DA) in the striatum was studied in mice and rats. Mestranol was combined with each one of the three progestins, lynestrenol, norethindrone and norethynodrel. Treatments were given daily for 1, 4 or 30 days; animals were sacrificed 1 or 18 h after the last administration. In all groups, with the exception of the animals sacrificed 1 h after an acute treatment, striatal DA was significantly lower than in controls.

Influence of the oral contraceptive, menstranol, on drug-metabolizing enzymes of female rats in thiamin-supplemented and deficiency states

The administration of a diet deficient in thiamin results in elevated hepatic microsomal activity of aniline hydroxylase, ethylmorphone demethylase, NADPH cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome P-450 when compared to similar female rats fed diets supplemented with thiamin. Accompanying these differences in enzyme activity are increased concentrations of microsomal docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. Binding of aniline to microsomes from rats fed high levels of thiamin is decreased due to a decrease in cytochrome P-450. On the other hand, the binding of ethylmorphine to P-450 is decreased by feeding high levels of thiamin. The daily administration of mestranol enhanced ethylmorphine and aniline metabolism to a greater extent in rats fed thiamin-rich diet than in rats fed thiamin-deficient diet or laboratory chow. This treatment did not increase cytochrome P-450 cytochrome c reductase or microsomal protein nor does it appear to affect the binding of aniline to cytochrome P-450. Ethylmorphine binding is generally decreased by this treatment. Alterations in the Michaelis constants for these reactions were limited to an increase in the Ks for aniline in pair-fed animals and in the Ks for ethylmorphine in thiamin-deficient rats receiving 1.0 mg mestranol per day.

[Effect of oral contraceptives on plasma insulin and blood glucose levels after long term use (author's transl)]

Blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured during an intravenous glucose tolerance test (0.33 g/kg body weight) performed on 75 subjects. Various types of oral contraceptives were taken for an average period of 6.5 yrs. The cases were divided into several groups in order to examine the effect of combination-type drugs (group A; n= 40) and sequential-type drugs (group B; n = 23) separately. A third group had used both types of drugs (group C; n = 13). Fifteen women who have never taken hormone drugs served as control group. It was found that plasma insulin levels, blood glucose and k-values were not significantly elevated in the drug treated groups. The duration of treatment does not seem to have an effect on glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. In this study the patient's age is the most important associated data, and not overweight, family history of diabetes or past obstetric history. No statistical change in insulin levels, reaction areas of glucose and insulin after IVGTT was seen in any drug treated group.

Biochemical effects of treatment with oral contraceptive steroids on the dopaminergic system of the rat

The effects of acute and chronic administration of a combination of lynestrenol-mestrenol, a widely employed contraceptive medication, on the dopaminergic system of the rat forebrain and striatum were investigated to better understand the biochemical basis of the neurological side-effects of steroid contraceptive drugs (SCDs). Both acute and chronic treatment increased the disappearance rate of striatal dopamine (DA) after synthesis blockade with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MpT). Moreover, the conversion of 3H-tyrosine (3H-T) into 3H-DA was increased in the forebrain and striatum after chronic administration of this steroid combination. In the same animals, the utilization of tyrosine (T) is increased.

Effect of contraceptive steroids on arginine- stimulated glucagon and insulin secretion in women. II. Carbohydrate and lipid physiology in insulin-dependent diabetics

The effect of contraceptive steroids on aminogenic glucagon secretion was studied in six insulin-dependent diabetic women. After 2 wk treatment with combined mestranol (80 mug) plus norethindrone (1 mg) daily, the mean peak plasma glucagon response to arginine infusion was suppressed to one-fourth of control levels. This was associated with a small but significant decrease in mean basal plasma cholesterol concentrations. There were no changes in basal plasma triglyceride, free fatty acid, glucose, insulin, or alpha-amino nitrogen concentrations or in daily insulin requirements during mestranol plus norethindrone treatment. These results confirm previous reports of no consistent changes in the insulin requirements of insulin-dependent diabetic women using contraceptive steroids and suggest that these women may not experience dramatic changes in their lipid metabolism during contraceptive therapy.

Cortisol metabolism after oral contraceptives: total plasma cortisol and the free cortisol index

Plasma concentrations of cortisol, cortisol resin uptake ratio (cortisol RUR) and free cortisol index (FCI) were measured in women taking combined oestrogen/progestogen and progestogen only oral contraceptives. Compared to control subjects, women taking the combined pill had elevated cortisol and cortisol RUR values in both the morning and afternoon but there was no significant change in FCI. Women taking the progestogen only pill had essentially normal levels of cortisol, cortisol RUR and FCI at both times of the day. As far as could be judged, diurnal variation of total cortisol and FCI remained unimpaired in women taking both types of pill. The FCI measurements indicated that there was no significant increase in metabolically active cortisol in women taking either the combined oestrogen/progestogen or the progestogen only type of oral contraceptive.

Metabolism of 2-3H- and 4-14C-17alpha-ethynylestradiol 3-methyl ether (mestranol) by women

A mixture of 2-3H and 4-14C-mestranol was administered orally to five women and 2-3H-mestranol alone to one woman. Reactions involving position 2 were extensive as judged by liberation of 3H into body water (14-45% of the dose). 17alpha-Ethynylestradiol, 2-hydroxy-17alpha-ethynylestradiol, 2-methoxy-17alpha-ethynylestradiol, 2-hydroxy-17alpha-ethynylestradiol 3-methyl ether and 16geta-hydroxy-17alpha-ethynylestradiol were measured in the "glucuronide" and pH1 fractions and mestranol, D-homoestrone-17a and D-homoestradiol-17abeta were also measured in the "glucuronide" fraction frum the urine to two of the women by reverse isotope dilution. Radioactive 2-methoxyestradiol accounted for less than 0.011% of the 14C dose in the "glucuronide" fraction of one of the women, consistent with the extent of de-ethynylation previously reported (Steroids, 25, 343 (1975).

Ultrastructural effects of mestranol and norethindrone on guinea pig endometrial stromal cell

The effect of exogenous contraceptive steroids on the ultrstructural features of the endometrial stromal cells was studied in 64 guinea pigs allotted to 4 treatment groups. Four guinea pigs from each group were killed 14, 28, 56, and 84 days after treatment with mestranol (0.01 mg/day in 1 ml of oil) or with norethindrone (0.2 mg/day in 1 ml of oil) or with a combination of both (0.001 mg of mestranol/day and 0.02 mg of norethindrone/day in 1 ml of oil) or with 1 ml of vegetable oil (oil-treated controls). An additional 12 normal guinea pigs (nontreated controls) were killed during the follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle, and uterine specimens were immediately collected to determine base line characteristics. During estrus, the stromal cells of these 12 guinea pigs had abundant dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. The interstitium was filled with collagen. During the luteal phase. the cytoplasm of the stromal cells of the 12 guinea pigs contained a prominent nucleus and rough endoplasmic reticulum with undilated cisterns. The interstitium contained sparse amounts of collagen. The stromal cells of the oil-treated control guinea pigs seemed similar in ultrastructure to the stromal cells of the 12 nontreated control guinea pigs at the luteal phase. Mestranol-fed guinea pigs had dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and well-developed Golgi apparatus within 2 weeks of initial treatment. The interstitium of mestranol-treated guinea pigs had more collagen than that of the oil-treated controls and nontreated controls during the luteal phase. Prolonged treatment with mestranol caused extensive dilation of the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. The interstitium was filled with abundant collagen. Pronounced alterations in the cytoplasmic organelles or extracellular connective tissue were not ovserved in guinea pigs given norethindrone alone or norethindrone in combination with mestranol for 14 days. The stromal cells closely resembled the cells of the mature animal at luteal phase. However, the dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum that occurred in cells after mestranol treatment was not seen in stromal cells after 84 days of treatment with norethindrone. Dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum was also observed when both the contraceptive steroids were given simultaneously for 84 days. The increased and extensively dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum seen during the follicular phase and after mestranol administration or after 84 days of treatment with mestranol and norethindrone probably indicates increased protein synthesis by the endometrial stromal cells.