O. Dimitrov et al., EFFECTS OF FEMALE SEX-HORMONES ON POLYAMINE-OXIDIZING ENZYME-ACTIVITIES AND POLYAMINE CONCENTRATIONS IN IMMATURE RAT UTERUS AND LIVER, Experientia, 52(8), 1996, pp. 795-798
17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P) treatment of immature fe
male rats (10 mu g/100 g body weight) respectively resulted in 1.38-fo
ld (p < 0.02) and 1.42-fold (p < 0.02) increase in the uterine polyami
ne oxidase activity, and 2.45-fold (p < 0.001) and 1.43-fold (p < 0.02
) increase in the uterine diamine oxidase activity, as compared to the
controls. E(2) caused a 5-fold (p < 0.05) and a 1.36-fold (p < 0.05)
increase in putrescine and spermidine concentration respectively in ra
t uterus. Increases of 1.7-fold (p < 0.02) and 1.6-fold (p < 0.05) in
putrescine and spermine concentration were determined in the P-treated
uterus, as compared to the controls. The spermidine/spermine ratio, w
hich is regarded as an index of growth rate, was higher in the E(2)-tr
eated uterus and lower in the P-treated uterus than in the control ute
rus. No statistically significant hormonal effects were estimated in t
he immature liver. The data reported suggest the possibility of an inv
olvement of polyamine-oxidizing enzymes in the modulation of polyamine
concentrations in rat uterus by the female sex hormones.