Effect of estrogen and progesterone on the hepatic cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase activity in ovariectomized baboons

Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was measured in livers from ovariectomized baboons fed a high cholesterol high saturated fat diet and maintained in four groups: untreated controls, estrogen (100 micrograms/g per week), progesterone (3 mg/kg per day) and estrogen + progesterone. Estrogen treatment alone increased hepatic 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity by 2.7-fold, whereas progesterone treatment alone did not influence hepatic 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity. The increase in 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in estrogen + progesterone group was similar to that in the estrogen group.