Hydrogen peroxide formation and lipid peroxidation in rat uterus— effect of hormones and vitamin Ε.

The effect of estradiol–17ß and progesterone given separately as well as in combination on the rate of hydrogen peroxide formation and lipid peroxidation in the uteri of ovariectomized rats was studied. Estradiol in 3 μg dose per day per animal elicited maximum stimulatory response and progesterone (100 μg), on the other hand, was without any such effect. However, progesterone given along with estradiol completely prevented the effect due to the latter. In the same way, vitamin E, a well known antioxidant was found to be extremelv effective in protecting the uterus from the highly peroxidative action of estradiol–17ß.