Effect of oral contraceptive steroid hormones on metabolic parameters of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat

Contraception, and pregnancy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a review

Adolescence is a critical period for girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Reproductive issues, such as menstrual abnormalities, risk of an unplanned pregnancy, and contraception, should be addressed during this phase of life. This paper reviews several reproductive issues that are important in the care of adolescents, including pubertal development, menstrual abnormalities, ovulatory function, reproductive problems, the effects of hyperglycemia, contraception, and treatment of an unplanned pregnancy. A review of the literature was conducted. A MEDLINE search January 1966 to March 2011 was performed using the following MESH terms: puberty, menarche, ovary, polycystic ovary syndrome, menstruation, contraception, contraception-barrier, contraceptives-oral-hormonal, sex education, family planning services, and pregnancy in adolescence. This literature search was cross-referenced with an additional search on diabetes mellitus-type 1, diabetes complications, and pregnancy in diabetes. All published studies were searched regardless of the language of origin. Bibliographies were reviewed to extract additional relevant sources.

Reproductive hormone effects on strength of the rat anterior cruciate ligament

The material properties of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in female rats with normal estrous cycles were compared to those regulated by oral contraceptive steroids. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: an experimental group received daily ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel in a dosing model designed to simulate a typical oral contraception regime in humans, while a control group received daily oral placebo. After eight cycles, six rats from each group underwent daily phlebotomy to measure serum estradiol and progesterone levels over the course of a single 5-day estrous cycle. Significant differences between groups were found for the area under the curve of blood progesterone levels versus time over the length of the estrous cycle (P=0.02). After 12 cycles, the rats were euthanized and one femur-ACL-tibia complex from each animal was dynamically loaded to failure. The ACLs from the rats in the experimental group had significantly decreased average and tangent stiffness, (P=0.002 and 0.0001, respectively), and significantly increased elongation (P=0.002) and total energy absorbed (P=0.03), or greater toughness than controls. In rats, it appears that the administration of reproductive hormones designed to simulate typical oral contraception in humans alters the mechanical properties of the rat ACL.

The effect of 17 beta-estradiol on weight, blood glucose and plasma insulin levels in diabetic rats

Steroid hormones are used to treat a variety of diseases in both diabetic and non-diabetic people. Since steroid hormones affect glucose metabolism, the aim of this study was to examine whether 3.3 mg/kg body weight of orally administered 17 beta-estradiol (E2) would adversely affect the body weight, blood glucose and plasma insulin levels of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of STZ given intraperitoneally (60 mg/kg body weight). Administration of E2 caused a decrease in the weight of diabetic rats compared to untreated diabetic rats two weeks after the experiment. Although the blood glucose level in the E2-treated rats was numerically lower than that of untreated diabetics, the difference was not statistically significant. The plasma insulin level in E2-treated diabetic rats (0.44 +/- 0.1 ng/ml) was not significantly different from that of untreated diabetic rats (0.52 +/- 0.1 ng/ml). The plasma insulin levels of E2-treated and untreated diabetic rats were, however, significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of normal rats (1.18 +/- 0.5 ng/ml). In conclusion, E2 caused progressive loss of body weight, but did not significantly alter the blood glucose and plasma insulin levels of diabetic rats when compared to normal controls. This shows that E2 may be given to diabetic patients without significantly disrupting glucose homeostasis.