CHANGES IN CITRATE CONCENTRATION IN THE MOUSE UTERUS WITH EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED ADENOMYOSIS

Components of the uterine fluid in mice with experimentally-induced ad enomyosis and in controls were examined by proton nuclear magnetic res onance spectroscopy. One of the components was markedly different in m ice with adenomyosis. As this component was estimated to be citrate by comparison with authentic samples (standard spectrum), its levels in uterine fluid, uterine tissue and blood were determined by enzymatic a nalysis. The fluid obtained from the uterus with adenomyosis showed si gnificantly lower concentration of citrate than that from normal uteru s. However, the uterine tissue concentration was significantly higher in the experimental mice with adenomyosis. There was no difference in the blood citrate level between the experimental and the control group s. Since adenomyosis was induced by chronic hyperprolactinemia, the ch ange of citrate level in the uterus with this lesion(.) might imply so me effects of prolactin (PRL) on metabolism and/or secretion of citrat e. However, in normal mice, no significant change was demonstrated in uterine citrate concentration after short-term experimental modulation of the circulating PRL level. Thus, it is unlikely that PRL can regul ate directly citrate metabolism in the uterus, indicating some other c ause for changes in citrate level accompanying the development of aden omyosis.