Effects of misoprostol on lipoprotein (a) levels of ovariectomized rats

Objective: To determine the effects of misoprostol on plasma lipoprotein (a ) concentrations of ovariectomized rats. Design: Controlled prospective study. Setting: Animal research laboratory. Animal(s): Four-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats. Intervention(s): Blood samples were obtained before and 60 days after ovari ectomy, and the rats were divided into three groups. Group I (five rats) wa s treated with vehicle (water); groups II and III (nine and eight rats, res pectively) were treated with oral misoprostol at 100 and 200 mu g/kg/d, res pectively, for 60 days, after which blood was drawn again. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum lipoprotein (a) levels. Result(s): The median lipoprotein (a) level before ovariectomy was 10.8 mg/ dL (range, 10.6-46.5 mg/dL). Sixty days after ovariectomy, the level increa sed significantly to 15.9 mg/dL (range, 10.6-36.9 mg/dL). After treatment, there was no change in lipoprotein (a) levels in the vehicle-treated group (range, 16.3-21.1 mg/dL); however, the lipoprotein (a) levels decreased sig nificantly in the group treated with 100 mu g/kg/d of misoprostol, from 15. 4 mg/dL to 10.8 mg/dL, and in the group treated with 200 mu g/kg/d of misop rostol, from 17.1 mg/dL to 10.6 mg/dL. Conclusion(s): Misoprostol caused a significant decrease in lipoprotein (a) levels. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;72: 518-21. (C) 1999 by American Society fo r Reproductive Medicine.) 518.