Effect of danazol and ovariectomy on matrix metalloproteinases in rat uteri

The experiments described in this report were designed to study the effects of danazol on matrix metalloproteinases in the rat uterus. Proteinases were analyzed by zymography in gels copolymerized with either gelatin or transferrin. There were no apparent effects of danazol on proteinases from rat uteri when analyzed in gelatin gels. However, in transferrin gels, not only did more bands appear in control samples but also there was a clear negative effect of danazol on the production of these proteinases. Similar results were obtained from uteri of ovariectomized rats. Again no differences were observed in gelatin gels but the control bands which appeared only on transferrin gels were missing in transferrin gels as a result of ovariectomy. These results indicate that there is an effect of estrogen on the synthesis of specific matrix metalloproteinases in the rat uterus and that these proteinases are only observed by zymography when gels are developed in transferrin but not collagen.