The Effect of Estrogen and Progesterone on Genital Tract Weight and Glycogen Content in Ovariectomized Guinea Pigs

The effect of estradiol or estradiol and progesterone on weight water content and glycogen content of uterus cervix and vagina in ovariectomized guinea pigs was surveyed briefly. 4 groups of 5 guinea pigs ovariectomized for 1 year received: 1) 1 mcg estradiol benzoate at 1 and 24 hours .4 mg progesterone at 48 hours and were killed 2 hours after estrus detected by the lordosis response; 2) 1 mcg estradiol at 0 and 24 hours and oil at 48 hours; 3) 100 mcg estradiol at 0 and 24 hours and oil at 48 hours; 4) controls (treatment not specified). Uterine tissue weights increased significantly in all treated groups (p less than .01); vaginal tissue was not weighed; water content remained unchanged. Significant weight gain in cervix was measured after 122 mcg estradiol and the combined treatment. The only significant increase in glycogen was in cervix after 1 mcg estrogen. The uterus had about 5% mo re water content in all groups than did the other tissues. This lack of glycogen response differs from the definite glycogen deposition in rats and hamsters.