Changes of activities of some transferases, alkaline phosphatase and cholinesterase in the blood of women using oral contraceptives and in vitro influence of these agents on tissular enzyme levels in rat liver.

Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in the blood serum of women taking the oral contraceptive preparation Microgynon through extended periods were raised; the activity of cholinesterase was simultaneously reduced. In rats liver homogenates ethynylestradiol, one of the active components of Microgynon, acted as an inducer of gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase while leaving aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase unaffected, but reduced the level of cholinesterase. Norgestrel, the other active component of the preparation, suppressed the biosynthesis of gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase while leaving aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and cholinesterase levels unaffected. A mixture of ethynylestradiol plus norgestrel in the mass proportion occurring in Microgynon produced the same effects upon gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase as ethynylestradiol alone. Estradiol, the parent hormone of ethynylestradiol, lacked the inducing capability of the latter while ethynylpropargyl chloride induced gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase so it was concluded the inducing effect of ethynylestradiol must be ascribed to the ethynyl radical. Progesterone, the parent of norgestrel, shared the latter's suppressive activity for gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase biosynthesis, and behaved like its derivative towards the other enzymes.