title: Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in erythrocytes of women taking oral contraceptive steroids.
abstract: We have measured catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs) obtained from 64 women taking oral contraceptives steroids and compared these values with those found in RBCs obtained from 73 women using nonsteroidal contraceptives. The COMT activity in the RBCs of women taking oral contraceptives steroids and of women not taking contraceptive steroids was 9.1 +/- 0.28 (mean and standard error) and 8.8 +/- 0.26 nmoles 2-methoxyestrone X ml-1 RBC X hr-1, respectively. This difference in the COMT activity in RBCs from these two groups of women was not statistically significant. This finding differs from that of others who found that COMT activity in RBCs of women taking oral contraceptive steroids was greater than that of women not taking such drugs.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002396:Catechols; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D045166:Estradiol Congeners / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D002396:Catechols; D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase