The effect of a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor on the hormonal profile and the endometrium in women.
A prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, naproxen, was given continuously throughout the menstrual cycle at a dose of 250 mg twice daily to 10 healthy fertile women (group 1) and at a dose of 1000 mg per day to eight women in the secretory phase (group 2). Blood samples were withdrawn three times a week during a control cycle and during the treatment cycle. Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone were analyzed. Endometrial biopsies were taken in the secretory phase of the control cycle and in the treatment cycle of group 1 and on the first day of menstruation of group 2. Naproxen treatment did not suppress ovulation in any cycle and did not affect the corpus luteum function either in group 1 or in group 2. In only one of the endometrial samples taken in the secretory phase (group 1) was the density of the lysosomes increased in the treatment cycle compared to the control cycle. The specimen taken during the early menstrual period (group 2) showed an increase in glandular epithelium and height following naproxen treatment. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of plasmolemmal vesicles per square micrometer was observed in the capillary endothelial cells after the administration of 1000 mg of naproxen per day. This suggests that the transcellular exchange of water-soluble molecules in the endothelial cells was more active after the administration of a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor than in the control group. In spite of the significant morphologic changes observed in the naproxen-treated material the onset of menstrual bleeding could not be prevented. The mechanism of the onset of menstruation needs to be further investigated.
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D009288:Naproxen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D009288:Naproxen; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone