"Our findings can lead to the development and screening of synthetic hormones to find a safe progestin that will ultimately give women safer options than are currently available for hormone replacement therapy," said Tom Thomas, MD, PhD, co-principal investigator and lead author of the study published today in Climacteric, the Journal of the International Menopause Society.
"This is experimental evidence that supports scientists who believe estrogen with the right formulation is good for some women, depending on their other risk factors."
The novel imaging technique was developed by Thomas and Johannes Rhodin, MD, PhD, co-principal investigator. It took three years for Thomas and Rhodin to combine video microscopy with fluorescence and electron microscopy. By labeling blood cells with a fluorescent tag, the team observed blood flow, blood vessel structure and activities of various blood cells in real time in a live animal. After one dose of medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA), the most widely used synthetic progestin in estrogen prepaparations and oral contraceptives, the rats had visible damage to the periphery and brain blood vessels, endothelial and smooth muscle damage, inflammation and blood clot formation and impeded blood flow.
These vascular reactions to synthetic progestin can lead to increases in heart attacks, blood clots, strokes and dementia--problems that were observed in the Women's Health Initiative," Thomas said.
The USF researchers' findings may shed light on the current reassessment of the National Institute of Health-sponsored Women's Health Initiative.
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Contact: Marissa Emerson
memerson@hsc.usf.edu
813-974-3300
University of South Florida Health
11-Dec-2003