EFFECTS OF ESTRADIOL AND MEDROXYPROGESTERONE-ACETATE TREATMENT ON ERYTHROCYTE ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME-ACTIVITIES AND MALONDIALDEHYDE PLASMA-LEVELS IN AMENORRHOIC WOMEN

Plasma levels of 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) and malondialdehyde and eryt hrocyte antioxidant enzyme [superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutat hione-peroxidase (GSH-Px)] activities were evaluated in 20 healthy eum enorrhoic women (EW) on day 7 of the menstrual cycle and in 48 seconda ry hypothalamic amenorrhea patients (AP) (time 0). The AP were randoml y divided into four subgroups of 12 subjects and treated with transder mal E(2) for 30 days (subgroup A), oral medroxyprogesterone-acetate fo r 30 days (subgroup B), and transdermal E(2) plus medroxyprogesterone- acetate for 30 days (subgroup C). The fourth subgroup acted as control . E(2) and malondialdehyde plasma levels and superoxide dismutase, cat alase, and GSH-Px activities were evaluated in subgroups A, B, and C o n day 30 of therapy and in the control subgroup. GSH-Px activity was s ignificantly higher in EW than in AP at time 0. A statistically signif icant increase in E(2) plasma levels and GSH-Px activity was observed in subgroups A and C on day 30 of treatment, and there was a significa nt positive correlation between E(2) plasma levels and GSH-Px activity in both subgroups. After a month of treatment, erythrocyte GSH-Px act ivity in subgroups A and C was not significantly different from that o bserved in EW. After a month of treatment, no significant variation wa s found in subgroup B nor in the control group. These results strongly suggest that when plasma E(2) is restored to physiological levels in AP, it stimulates erythrocyte GSH-Px activity. Progesterone therapy di d not induce significant modifications.