DIFFERENT EFFECT OF A RESTRICTED DIET ON ISOLATED UTERI OF OVARIECTOMIZED AND NON-OVARIECTOMIZED RATS - INFLUENCE OF INDOMETHACIN AND PROSTAGLANDINS

The effect of restricted diet (50% of the normal intake during 25 days ) on the metabolism of labelled glucose, in uteri isolated from ovarie ctomized (25 days) and non-ovariectomized rats, was explored. In intac t rats subjected to dietary restriction, the formation of (CO2)-C-14 f rom U C-14-glucose is significantly lower than in controls. Indomethac in increases glucose metabolism, being even higher in underfed rats' u teri. This effect is not altered by the addition of prostaglandins E(1 ), E(2) or F-2 alpha to the medium. In castrated rats, the formation o f (CO2)-C-14 increases due to underfeeding and this result is not alte red by indomethacin. Glycogen and triglyceride values in the isolated uterus were measured immediately after killing (0 time) and after 60 m in of incubation in a glucose-free KRB medium. The post-incubation lev els of glycogen from intact normal fed animals diminished in compariso n to initial values, and this result was not altered by the addition o f indomethacin. In rats subjected to dietary restriction, glycogen did not decline further after incubation, and the addition of indomethaci n led to a significant fall. In spayed rats, glycogen diminished after 60 min both in normal fed rats and in underfed ones, and they were no t affected by the indomethacin. In intact underfed rats, uterine trigl ycerides fall after 60 min. Indomethacin changes this situation, which is again evoked by the addition of PGF(2 alpha). In ovariectomized ra ts, uterine triglycerides are neither altered by a restricted diet nor affected by indomethacin. These results indicate that the effects of a restricted diet on glucose and triglyceride metabolisms in the isola ted uterus of intact rats does not appear in ovariectomized ones.