Serum Protein Alterations Produced in Women by Synthetic Estrogens

Abstract

The action of ethinyl estradiol alone or in combination with norethynodrel caused changes in the concentration of 6 of the serum proteins. No appreciable difference in the effects of the estrogen alone or combined with the progestational agent was found except perhaps in the case of the “pregnancy” protein. Two weeks cessation of Enovid therapy was insufficient time to allow the protein changes induced by estrogen to return to normal. Serum albumin and total protein were significantly depressed, whereas ceruloplasmin, CBG, TBG and G-c components were consistently elevated by estrogen treatment. Haptoglobins were decreased by estrogen in all cases. The slow α₂-globulin on polyacrylamide electrophoresis and the α- and β-globulins on paper electrophoresis were not changed by estrogen, as indicated by densitometry. Transferrin showed no change on polyacrylamide electrophoresis and quantitative assay in males and females receiving estrogens also failed to demonstrate any change in transferrin concentration.