title: Effects of increasing ratio of progesterone in estrogen/progesterone combination on total oxidant/antioxidant status in rat uterus and plasma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between increasing ratio of progesterone in estrogen/progesterone combination and oxidative stress (OS) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty non-pregnant Wistar Albino female rats were divided into five groups and bilaterally ovariectomized (Ovx) except sham group. GROUPS: Sham + 0.3 cc seaseme oil, Ovx + 0.3 cc seaseme oil, Ovx + estradiol propionate (E2) (1 μg/kg), Ovx + E2 + medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 1 mg/kg, Ovx + E2 + MPA 20 mg/kg. Hormones were applied for three consecutive days after 28 days of ovariectomy. Their uteri and blood samples were collected and nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E2 + MPA1 treatment decreased NO, MDA and TOS levels and increased TAC levels in uterus. Plasma NO levels elevated in all groups and MDA production increased due to E2 treatment when compared to ovariectomy. E2 + MPA20 treatment increased TOS levels, while TAC levels decreased when compared to ovariectomy in plasma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using E2 plus low dose progesterone may prevent pathologies resourced of OS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. askinh@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Askin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hekimoglu
authors.forename: Hakki Murat
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kurcer
authors.forename: Ali Riza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ocak