Effects of iron overload on bile secretion and hepatic porphyrin metabolism in ethinyl estradiol-treated rats.
We investigated the effects of ethinyl estradiol (5 mg/kg body wt daily for 5 days, orally) and/or iron sorbitol (50 mg/kg body wt daily for 5 days, i.m.) on bile flow, bile salt independent fraction (BSIF), hepatic delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALA-S) and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D) in female rats. Ethinyl estradiol administration was associated with a significant decrease of bile flow and BSIF and an increase in URO-D activity in comparison to control values. Iron alone did not modify biliary parameters, but significantly increased the activity of ALA-S. Combined treatment with ethinyl estradiol plus iron partially corrected the reduction of BSIF and restored the activity of ALA-S and URO-D to control levels. Thus iron appears to exert a partially protective effect against ethinyl estradiol-induced cholestasis. No porphyrinogenic effect was observed.
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000139:chemically induced; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014575:Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D011166:Porphyrins; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D007501:Iron; D014575:Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase