EFFECTS OF ETHINYLESTRADIOL NORETHISTERONE ACETATE COMBINATIONS ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF LIVER, KIDNEY, OVARY AND ENDOMETRIUM CELLS

Sexually mature female Wistar rats were given 0.05 mg ethinylestradiol (EE) + 0.5 mg norethisterone acetate (NET), or 0.1 mg EE + 1.0 mg NET for 6 or 12 sexual cycles, i.e., for 30 or 60 days. Rat hepatocytes, renal proximal tubule cells, ovarian granulosa cells and endometrial g land cells showed ultrastructural changes that correlated with the dos e and duration of EE/NET treatment. The most common ultrastructural fe atures were as follows: reduced RER, mitochondrial damage, and an incr eased number of lysosomes. The study has shown that EE/NET combination s used in oral contraception produce ultrastructural lesions, which ma y impair protein biosynthesis and energy production processes, and may simultaneously enhance cellular catabolism.