372. Influence of injectable steroid contraceptives on tissue lipids of female guinea pigs

Abstract

Unlike oral steroid contraceptives metabolic effects of long-acting injectable steroid contraceptives have not yet been reported. It was therefore planned to study the influences of long-acting steroid contraceptives on lipids since steroids being fat soluble are localized in adipose tissue. Fertile female guinea pigs were injected im with .1 ml/animal/month of either a mixture of dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide and estradiol-17-enanthate (mixed group) or medroxyprogesterone acetate Depo-Provera (DP group). Animals in the control group received normal saline. 3 weeks after the 3rd injection the animals were killed and the serum liver heart and ovaries analyzed for cholesterol (Chol) total and differential phospholipids (PLP) and triglycerides (TG). All these tissues were also examined histopathologically. The results show that in the mixed group there was a significant decrease in Chol PLP and TG in serum; and in the DP group only serum Chol was significantly increased. Levels of TG in the liver of both the treated groups were elevated. The TG of heart only in the DP group was elevated. Since there was no effect on serum free fatty acid levels it appeared that the increase in tissue TG is the result of an influence on synthesis and/or transport. Histopathological examination showed follicular degeneration with arrest of corpus luteum and ova were absent or necrosed. There was no histological evidence of fatty infiltration of the tissues examined. (FULL TEXT)