Influence of sex hormones on ethanol-induced gastric haemorrhagic erosions in rats.
The role of sex hormones in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced gastric erosions was investigated following the recent observation that ethanol generates more severe gastric damage in male rats. Female and male Wistar rats aged 110 +/- 6 days were used. Intact female, ovariectomized female, intact male, orchidectomized male and cyproterone acetate-pretreated (this compound a testosterone antagonist) male rats were investigated. 1 ml of 75% ethanol was used to induce gastric lesions. The extent of the erosions was determined planimetrically 60 min after ethanol administration. The plasma testosterone and 17-beta-oestradiol levels were checked by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in gonadectomized rats. Ethanol generates more severe lesions in male rats. Orchidectomy and cyproterone acetate treatment each reduced the extent of ethanol-induced gastric erosions in male rats. Ovariectomy had no effect in this model. The plasma testosterone and 17-beta-oestradiol levels were significantly reduced after gonadectomy. It is concluded that endogenous testosterone plays an aggressive role in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced gastric erosions in rats.
First Department of Medicine, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
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D000818:Animals; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D000431:Ethanol; D013739:Testosterone; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D004958:Estradiol