Influence of Ovarian Hormones on Uterine Glycogen in the Rat

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Glycogen, lactic acid and citric acid were determined in uteri of ovariectomized rats. One group received no hormone pretreatment. The other was pretreated with a combination of estrogen and projesterone. Uterine glycogen, lactic acid and citric acid were determined after varying periods of contraction in vitro under varying experimental conditions. Initial glycogen in treated animals was 4-5 times greater than in untreated rats. Aerobically in the absence of glucose about 60% of the glycogen in treated uterus was lost during 2 hours of contraction either in the presence or absence of sodium fluoroacetate. Anaerobically in the absence of glucose, treated uteri lost about 75% of their glycogen during the first 30 minutes, accompanied by marked accumulation of lactic acid. Citric acid was not formed under these conditions. Untreated uteri gave qualitatively similar results. However, rates of metabolite accumulation or depletion were slower. Considered in the light of a previous study on contractility the results suggested that glycogen concentration in untreated ovariectomized uteri were at a level critical to contractile function.