CHANGES IN UTERINE MORPHOLOGY AND PHOSPHATASE LEVELS INDUCED BY CHRONIC STIMULATION WITH THE OVARIAN HORMONES

Abstract

Changes in the histology and alkaline phosphatase levels of the uterus were studied in castrated rabbits following treatment with estradiol, progesterone, or a combination of the 2 hormones for a period of 5-600 days. Treatment with 10 [mu]g estradiol daily caused an initial rise in both the endometrial and myometrial alkaline phosphatase levels to an initial peak of 24 U in 5 days for the endometrium, and 6 U in 10 days for the myometrium. Thereafter the phosphatase showed a steady decline in the myometrium to a value of 0.3 U after 600 days. The phosphatase of the endometrium fell to a low of 6 U at 50-100 days and then increased to a 2d peak of 18 U at 600 days. The 2d rise in the alkaline phosphatase of the endometrium occurred in conjunction with the appearance of cystic changes in the endometrial glands of the uterus. A positive correlation was observed, following treatment with progesterone, between the progestational reaction and the amount of alkaline phosphatase in the endometrium. In general, progesterone also acted to prevent or delay the onset of atypical growth in the endometrium.