Effect of Ovariectomy on Serum and Liver Lipid Peroxide Levels of Female Mice

Abstract

When bilateral ovaries were removed from 12-13-week-old female mice, serum lipid peroxide levels of the animals tended to increase at 1 month after the ovariectomy, and significantly higher levels compared with those of sham-operated control mice were observed at 2 and 3 months after the operation. Liver lipid peroxide levels of the ovariectomized mice were significantly increased at 1 month after the operation and high levels were also observed at 2 and 3 months after the operation. The increase in serum and liver lipid peroxide levels due to ovariectomy was suppressed by the subcutaneous administration of 17β-estradiol or 2-hydroxyestradiol. From these results, we propose that female hormones may play an important role in preventing an increase in lipid peroxide levels in women.