Influence of short-term treatment with estradiol-17 on folate metabolism in the rat
Laffi, R.; Tolomelli, B.; Bovina, C.; Marchetti, M.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 42(2): 196-204
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 5053846 Document Number: 50110
Female Wistar rats 12 weeks old were intact or had both ovaries removed; one group intact and one spayed were given immediately after the operation a single subcutaneous injection of oestradiol-17 beta 10 mu g/100 g bodyweight and corresponding groups were given the buffered saline vehicle only. Rats of each group were killed 48 h later; some were given 12 h before they were killed an intraperitoneal injection of folic acid 200 mu g/100 g and 5 ml 0.005 M NaC1 by stomach tube and urine was collected for the 12 h. Liver total folacin coenzymes showed a significant decrease in spayed rats which was due to 5- and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate;injected oestradiol prevented those changes but caused a fall of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Effects in the uterus were less and only 10-formyltetrahydrofolate decreased after spaying and the 5-methyl form after oestradiol injection. Spayed rats showed a increased urinary excretion of folacin compounds active for Lactobacillus casei, restored to normal by the hormone. Of enzymes related to metabolism of folacin coenzymes, only serine hydroxymethyltransferase decreased in both liver and uterus after removal of ovaries; the fall in the uterus was less after oestradiol. The effects on the enzymes were not believed to be primary ones.