Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Calcium in the body; Estrogen--Physiological effect; Rats;
Abstract
This research was an attempt to discover the relationship between estrogen treatment and the serum calcium levels in ovariectomized rats. An attempt was also made to study the possible effects of estrogen on calcium deposition during the calcification process by utilizing the calciphylaxis phenomena as a potential biological model. Concentrations of ionized and total calcium in the serum of ovariectomized rats were measured utilizing a calcium selective electrode system and atomic absorption spectroscopy procedures respectively. This was done following 3- and 6-day treatments with estrogen (0.1 µg). The same analysis was used in the calciphylactic treatment procedures both with and without estrogen. Calciphylaxis was induced by using ferricdextran (1.0 ml) as a challenger and dihydrotachysterol (0.5 ml) as the calcifier. The uteri of all rats used were analyzed for calcium content using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Levels of ionized calcium in estrogen-treated ovariectomized rats were significantly higher than controls at both 3- and 6-day treatment periods. At the same time, the total serum calcium levels were significantly lower by day 6. The same effects were noted in the estrogen-treated calciphylactic rats. The uterine calcium levels of the estrogen-treated rats were not significantly higher than controls. However, the addition of estrogen to the calciphylactic-treated rats resulted in highly significant increases in calcium deposition in the uterine tissue by day 6 as compared to values obtained with calciphylactic treatment alone. The data presented in this research and a review of the literature suggests that any actions estrogen might have on serum calcium are mediated through an estrogenic effect on the calcium-binding mechanisms in the serum and through a possible mechanism of action on bone.
Year of Submission
1972
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Biology
First Advisor
Robert J. Simpson
Second Advisor
Alan R. Orr
Third Advisor
Erwin Richter
Date Original
1972
Object Description
1 PDF file (84 leaves)
Copyright
©1972 Edward Luverne Hatcher
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Hatcher, Edward Luverne, "The Effects of Estrogen on Ionized Calcium in Ovariectomized Calciphylactic Rats" (1972). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2897.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2897
Comments
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