EFFECTS OF ESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE AN THE SYNTHESIS OF COLLAGEN INCORROSIVE ESOPHAGEAL BURNS IN RATS

The effects of sex hormones on the synthesis of collagen were investig ated in rats with alkali-induced corrosive esophageal burns. In 75 rat s, a standard esophageal burn was produced as described by Gehanno. Th e animals were then grouped as follows: controls (group A), animals wi th pure esophageal burns (group B), and animals with esophageal burns treated with estradiol and progesterone (group C). All animals were ki lled on the 28th day of the experiment. Hydroxyproline levels were det ermined, and histopathologic evaluation was performed for each group. The hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in the rats treated with estradiol and progesterone. Histopathologically, collagen deposi tion in the submucosa and tunica muscularis was lower in the estradiol /progesterone group than in the group with pure esophageal burns. Base d on the results, the authors believe that estradiol and progesterone inhibited new collagen synthesis, and therefore, alkali-induced esopha geal stricture formation. Copyright (C) 1994 by W.B. Saunders Company