Abstract
Summary
In rats as in man, pregnancy results in levels of prothrombin higher than observed in normal females. In the rat, prothrombin levels are higher in the female than in the male and the dietary requirement for vitamin K in the female is less. Higher levels of plasma prothrombin in the female are not due to decreased turnover of the protein. Estradiol does not have the activity of vitamin K or otherwise directly stimulate the formation of prothrombin. The effect of estradiol on vitamin K deficiency in male rats occurs slowly over a period of several days. The decreased requirement for vitamin K and the increased circulating levels of prothrombin in female or estrogen-treated rats may be due to separate effects of the hormone.
We are indebted to medical students, Ralph Principe and Lynn Hill for their contribution to this report.
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