Effects of natural and synthetic estrogens and progestins on glycogen deposition in female mice.

Glycogen deposition and glucose tolerance were examined in female mice after 24 days of oral treatment with natural (17 beta-estradiol and progesterone) and synthetic (ethinyl estradiol and norethisterone acetate) sex steroids, administered individually and in estrogen-progestin combination. Doses were 5 micrograms/kg/day for estrogens and 1 mg/kg/day for progestins. Compared with diestrus control mice, each treatment increased glycogen deposition in liver, uterus, heart and biceps femoris muscle. 17 beta-Estradiol produced the greatest increments. Progesterone produced considerably smaller increments and antagonized the glycogenic effects of 17 beta-estradiol. Ethinyl estradiol and norethisterone acetate generally induced similar changes in glycogen deposition. Treatments containing 17 beta-estradiol improved glucose tolerance. Although glucose tolerance was not significantly altered by the other sex steroid treatments, the changes in glycogen deposition indicate important effects on tissue carbohydrate metabolism.