Effects of oestradiol and oestroprogestin on erythrocyte antioxidative enzyme system activity in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Data concerning the relationship between sex steroid hormones and the cellular antioxidative enzyme system are controversial. We investigated the effects of oestradiol deficiency after menopause and the influence of transdermal oestradiol therapy (ET) and hormonal (oestradiol plus medroxyprogesterone) replacement therapy (HT) on erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT). GSH and selenium (Se) concentrations were also estimated. Serum lipid peroxide (LPO) levels were measured as an indicator of free-radical production and lipid peroxidation.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 80 postmenopausal women, divided into two subgroups: 26 women with surgically induced menopause (ET1) and 54 women with physiological menopause (HT1). Forty premenopausal healthy volunteers were controls (C group).


RESULTS
LPO was higher in postmenopausal women and decreased after both ET and HT. GSH-Px and GSH were lower in the postmenopausal groups but increased significantly after both types of therapy. Se concentrations did not differ significantly among the groups. CAT activities were similar in all groups and decreased after ET and HT. SOD activities in postmenopausal women were similar to those in the C group and did not change significantly after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of natural oestrogens to postmenopausal women diminishes oxidative stress and increases antioxidative cell potency.
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Treatment, Medical University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland. tupikowska@epf.pl
Grazyna
G
Bednarek-Tupikowska
Urszula
U
Tworowska
Iwona
I
Jedrychowska
Barbara
B
Radomska
Krzysztof
K
Tupikowski
Bozena
B
Bidzinska-Speichert
Andrzej
A
Milewicz
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009652:Norpregnenes; C494367:estroprogestin; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D012643:Selenium