title: Effects of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel on morphology, ultrastructure and histoenzymatic activity of rat kidney.
abstract: Sexually mature female Wistar rats were given daily intragastric doses of ethinylestradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LE) used normally in women: (1) 0.03 mg EE and 0.05 mg LE; (2) 0.04 mg EE and 0.075 mg LE; (3) 0.03 mg EE and 0.125 mg LE. All groups were treated for 6 months in 5-day cycles (four-day treatment with a one-day break), i.e. for 36 sexual cycles. In rat kidneys, the activity of succinic dehydrogenase, NADPH-tetrazolium reductase, Mg(2+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase were decreased, while those of lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase were enhanced. We have found a correlation between enzymatic changes and ultrastructural changes in epithelial renal cells. These changes may reflect: (1) inhibited oxidative processes associated with the mitochondrial and microsomal systems of electron transport; (2) a compensatory increase in anaerobic processes; (3) increased glyconeogenesis; (4) inhibited transport processes and increased cellular catabolism. The kidney cortex and medulla did not show any significant morphological changes after 6 months of treatment. The study has shown that EE/LE combinations produce histochemical and ultrastructural changes in the kidney, which are dependent on the doses of gestagens.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Histology and Embryology, Silesian Medical Academy, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nowaczyk-Dura
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Czekaj
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D045166:Estradiol Congeners / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; C021848:NADPH-tetrazolium reductase; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase