title: Effects of hysterectomy and uterine extracts on growth hormone, somatomedin, prolactin, thyrotrophin and thyroid hormones in adult rats.
abstract: Plasma concentrations and anterior pituitary content of growth hormone (rGH), thyroid stimulating hormone (rTSH), and rat prolactin (rPrl) as well as the plasma concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and somatomedin A (SM-A) have been determined in intact, castrated or hysterectomized adult rats with and without treatment with steroid-free, crude uterine extracts. Hysterectomy caused a significant increase in the plasma GH but decrease in the plasma TSH concentrations. Injection of crude, steroid-free uterine extracts for 14 days had the following effects: decreased plasma GH concentration of intact rat and anterior pituitary GH content of both intact and castrated animals; increased plasma TSH and T3 concentrations above the ovariectomized control; decreased pituitary content of prolactin in castrated rats. The plasma levels of immunoreactive somatomedins A were negatively correlated to the plasma GH concentrations but positively correlated to the body weight. It was concluded that the uterus is not only a target for different endocrine influences but contains biologically active, non-steroidal substances which have a complex effect on the endocrine system of adult, female rats.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002369:Castration; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007044:Hysterectomy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000097:blood*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D014599:Uterus / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013002:Somatomedins; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone