SIX-WEEK TREATMENT WITH UKRAIN IN RABBITS. PART II: SERUM LEVELS OF GONADAL HORMONES

JAGIELLO-WÓJTOWICZ E., KLEINROK Z., FELDO M., CHODKOWSKA A., SZKLARCZYK V., URBANSKA E.M.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University School, Lublin, Poland.

Address for correspondence: E. Jagiello-Wójtowicz, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University School, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland. Tel/Fax: +48-81-747 89 24

Summary: The effect of 6-week treatment with Ukrain at doses of 0.3, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/kg i.v. on the serum levels of steroid hormones, i.e., estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone, was studied in rabbits of both sexes. It is demonstrated that Ukrain treatment exerts minor changes in serum hormone levels. The level of estradiol was increased in the serum of male rabbits following Ukrain treatment only at the dose of 1.5 mg/kg i. v. Similarly, the estradiol serum level was increased after Ukrain given at 1.5 mg/kg i. v. in female rabbits. In male rabbits Ukrain application at 0.3 mg/kg i. v. increased the serum testosterone level. Serum testosterone levels were not altered following Ukrain administration up to 3.0 mg/kg i. v. in female rabbits. Ukrain raised the serum progesterone levels in male rabbits at the doses of 0.3 and 3.0 mg/kg i. v. In females, only the highest dose of Ukrain produced a significant increase of serum progesterone.