EFFECTS OF 17-BETA-ESTRADIOL ON THE METABOLISM OF LABELED ARACHIDONIC-ACID IN UTERI ISOLATED FROM INTACT AND OVARIECTOMIZED RATS - INFLUENCE OF A RESTRICTED DIET

The effects of restricted diet (50% of the normal intake during 25 day s) on the metabolism of U-14 arachidonic acid, were explored in uterin e horn strips isolated from intact and ovariectomized rats, treated by 17 beta-estradiol or controls. The metabolism of arachidonic acid int o different eicosanoids, PGE(2), PGF(2 alpha), 6-keto PGF(1 alpha) and TXB2, showed that the restricted diet diminished PGE(2) and PGF(2 alp ha), in intact rats, significantly. In contrast, this kind of feeding did not produce any change in castrated rats. Tissue preparations from previously estrogenized intact and castrated normal-fed rats showed t hat the production of different metabolites decreased. A similar resul t was obtained in intact rats subjected to a restricted diet. Neverthe less, in castrated underfed rats, estrogens did not produce any effect on the various eicosanoids analysed. These results showed that in iso lated uteri, the effects of 17 beta-estradiol, on metabolite productio n from labelled arachidonic acid, are different from controls in ovari ectomized diet-restricted rats.