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Effects of Estradiol and Medroxyprogesterone-Acetate Treatment on Erythrocyte Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Malondialdehyde Plasma Levels in Amenorrhoic Women¹

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.M., G.F.), and Division of Neonatology (G.B., D.G., I.S.), University of Siena, Siena, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Cosimo Massafra, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Via P. Mascagni, 46, 53100 Siena, Italy.

Plasma levels of 17ß-estradiol (E₂) and malondialdehyde and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme [superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px)] activities were evaluated in 20 healthy eumenorrhoic women (EW) on day 7 of the menstrual cycle and in 48 secondary hypothalamic amenorrhea patients (AP) (time 0). The AP were randomly divided into four subgroups of 12 subjects and treated with transdermal E₂ for 30 days (subgroup A), oral medroxyprogesterone-acetate for 30 days (subgroup B), and transdermal E₂ plus medroxyprogesterone-acetate for 30 days (subgroup C). The fourth subgroup acted as control. E₂ and malondialdehyde plasma levels and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and GSH-Px activities were evaluated in subgroups A, B, and C on day 30 of therapy and in the control subgroup. GSH-Px activity was significantly higher in EW than in AP at time 0. A statistically significant increase in E₂ plasma levels and GSH-Px activity was observed in subgroups A and C on day 30 of treatment, and there was a significant positive correlation between E₂ plasma levels and GSH-Px activity in both subgroups. After a month of treatment, erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in subgroups A and C was not significantly different from that observed in EW. After a month of treatment, no significant variation was found in subgroup B nor in the control group. These results strongly suggest that when plasma E₂ is restored to physiological levels in AP, it stimulates erythrocyte GSH-Px activity. Progesterone therapy did not induce significant modifications.

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