ABSTRACT
Selenium is an essential trace mineral in the human body. it is an important part of antioxidant enzymes [Glutathione peroxidase] that protects cells against the effect of free radicals. Contraceptives are capable of inhibiting ovulation and successfully control fertility. Estrogen replacement therapy [ERT] is a wide spread treatment in postmenopausal women to alleviate climatic complaints. It has also been applied in the prevention of osteoporosis. The present study aims to follow-up antioxidant enzymes status of normal adult and ovariectomized female albino rats treated with contraceptive. Selenium was orally administered in therapeutic dose of 50 micro g/kg.b.wt/day, oral contraceptives [estrogen 0.54 and progesterone 2.7 micro g/kg.b.wt/day] and intramuscular injection of ERT 90 micro g/kg.b.wt/day for 30 days. Repeated medication with selenium caused very highly significant increase in super-oxide dismutase [SOD], reduced glutathione [GSH], glutathione reductase [GSH-R], glutathione S-transferase [GST] and glutathione peroxidase [GSH-PX] and decline in lipid peroxidation [LPO]. Contraceptives and ERT caused significant reduction in SOD, GSH, GSH-R, GST, GSH-PX and significant increase in LPO. When selenium was administered with contraceptive or with ERT, a slight increase was noticed in the different antioxidant parameters studied except for LPO which recorded a significant decrease.