Connective Tissue XIII. Effect of Estradiol Benzoate upon Collagen Synthesis by Sponge Biopsy Connective Tissue.

Abstract

Summary 1. The effect of estradiol benzoate upon collagen synthesis in sponge biopsy connective tissue has been studied in normal and ovariectomized rats. 2. A dose of 300 μg, twice weekly for 4 weeks, produced a decrease in sponge weight, collagen concentration and total amount of collagen. However, the radioisotopic data demonstrated a stimulating effect of estrogen on collagen synthesis, as there was an increase in the specific activity of collagen, hydroxylysine and lysine and the total counts per minute recovered per incubation. These results lead to the conclusion that estradiol stimulates the metabolism of collagen. 3. The stimulatory effect of estradiol on collagen synthesis in sponge biopsy connective tissue is more readily demonstrated in the ovariectomized than in the intact rat.