Investigations on the Effect of an Oral Contraceptive and its Components on Liver Function, Serum Proteins, Copper, Coeruloplasmin and γ -Glutamyl Peptidase in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Following administration of 0.15 mg of 17α-ethynyl-oestra-1, 3, 5 (10)-triene-3, 17β-diol 3-methyl ether (=Mestranol) +5 mg of 17α-ethynyl-oestr-4-ene-17β-ol (=Lynestrenol=Orgametril, Organon) (both components=1 tablet of Lyndiol, Organon) daily to 16 postmenopausal women for 2 weeks significant increases in serum transaminases, copper, non-coeruloplasmin copper, coeruloplasmin, γ-glutamyl peptidase and α₁-globulins were noted. When treatment with 0.15 mg of the oestrogen was continued for another two weeks a significant decrease of serum albumin was noted as compared with the pretreatment level and the total copper, coeruloplasmin, and α₁-globulin values continued to increase. When, in another group of subjects, the Mestranol+Lynestrenol treatment was followed by treatment with 5 mg of the progestogen for two weeks, the albumin value did not decrease and the copper, coeruloplasmin, α₁-globulins, and γ-glutamyl peptidase values remained unchanged. However, in the group treated with Mestranol + Lynestrenol and then with Mestranol the γ-glutamyl peptidase values decreased. Experiments were also carried out in which Mestranol and Lynestrenol were administered separately. It is concluded that the decrease in serum albumin and increases in α₁-globulins, total copper, non-coeruloplasmin copper, and coeruloplasmin are due to the oestrogen component of the contraceptive pill and that the progestogen is the primary cause for the increase in the serum enzymes estimated. Copper estimation seems to be a good tool for the in vivo evaluation of oestrogenicity of steroids.

Key-words:

• Contraceptives
• copper
• enzyme tests
• liver
• liver function tests
• serum albumin