The Effects of Ascorbic Acid on the Estrogen/Progesteron Levels in the Isolated Rabbit Uterine Muscle

Abstract

Background: The study was carried out to examine the effect of Ascorbic Acid (AsA) on estrogen/progesterone levels in the isolated non-pregnant rabbit uterine muscle.

Methods: Twelve non-pregnant rabbits were randomized into two groups as the rabbits pretreated with AsA (n = 6) and the rabbits not pretreated with AsA (n = 6). After 30 mg/kg AsA was administered intraperitoneally, serum and tissue (uterine smooth muscle) levels of estrogen and progesterone were measured.

Results: AsA at the above mentioned concentration caused a significant increase in tissue estrogen/progesterone ratio (P < 0.01), while did not induce any change in the hormone ratio in the serum. The increase in the tissue estrogen/progesterone ratio was resulted from both the decrease of the progesterone levels and the increase of estrogen levels (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: In this context, the fact that the tissue levels of hormones and autacoids is more important than the serum concentrations should be concidered. The findings of this study indicate that in comparison to the control group, AsA causes decrease in the non-pregnant isolated uterine smooth muscle tissue levels of progesterone and increase in the non-pregnant isolated uterine smooth muscle tissue levels of estrogen while the serum levels keep constant.




doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jcgo47w