Progesterone administration after trauma and hemorrhagic shock improves cardiovascular responses.
OBJECTIVE
Studies have shown that female rats during the proestrus stage have significantly improved cell and organ functions after trauma-hemorrhage compared with male and ovariectomized females. This study investigated the hypothesis that progesterone can improve the depressed cardiovascular function in sex steroid-deficient female rats (i.e., ovariectomized females) after trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University laboratory.


METHODS
Ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats (weight, 250-300 g).


METHODS
Rats underwent a 5-cm midline laparotomy (i.e., soft-tissue trauma), were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 35 mm Hg for approximately 90 mins, and were then resuscitated using Ringer's lactate. A single dose of progesterone (25 mg/kg of body weight) or vehicle was administered subcutaneously during resuscitation.


METHODS
At 20 hrs after trauma-hemorrhage or sham operation, cardiac output and heart performance and the circulating blood volume were assessed using the indocyanine green dilution technique and a left ventricular catheter. Furthermore, the binding activity of progesterone receptors in nuclear extracts of left ventricular tissue was determined.


RESULTS
Cardiac output, heart performance, and circulating blood volume were significantly decreased in vehicle-treated animals after trauma-hemorrhage. Administration of progesterone significantly improved cardiac output and heart performance and increased the circulating blood volume. This was associated with an increased progesterone receptor activity in the left ventricular nuclear extracts.


CONCLUSIONS
Because administration of progesterone after trauma-hemorrhage in sex steroid-deficient females improved cardiovascular responses, this hormone seems to be a useful adjunct for the treatment of cardiovascular depression in postmenopausal and ovariectomized female trauma patients.
Kuebler
Joachim F
JF
Center for Surgical Research and Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Jarrar
Doraid
D
Bland
Kirby I
KI
Rue
Loring
L
Wang
Ping
P
Chaudry
Irshad H
IH
D000818:Animals; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000628:therapy*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000517:prevention & control
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007208:Indocyanine Green