Effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate on the intestinal absorptive functions in protein-deficient rat

Effect of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) at a dose level of 35mg/Kg body weight per week for four weeks on the intestinal uptake of nutrients viz glucose, amino acids, (alanine and leucine), calcium and zinc has been investigated in protein-deficient female rats. The administration of MPA was found to enhance significantly the uptake of glucose and amino acids in both the pair-fed and the protein-deficient rats. In contrast, calcium uptake was depressed as a result of treatment with the drug as well as protein-deficiency. The uptake of zinc was not affected on drug administration. This steroidal contraceptive caused elevation in sodium-dependent glucose uptake, while the sodium-independent uptake remained unaltered. The kinetic parameters of glucose and leucine uptake indicate that MPA might be inducing the transport carrier protein of these nutrients as elevation in Vmax of these nutrients transport system was observed following its administration.