Progesterone metabolism by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and uterus of the rat during pregnancy

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Endocrinology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-109-1-41· OSTI ID:5707738

Marrone, B L; Karavolas, H J

Metabolites of (/sup 3/H)progesterone were quantitated from incubations of hypothalamus, pituitary, and uterus of rats during different stages of pregnancy. The hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and a section of uterus from five rats on Days 1, 8, 15, and 21 of pregnancy were incubated individually with (3H)progesterone and analyzed for metabolite formation by reverse isotopic dilution analysis. The radioactive metabolites present were 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (5 alpha-DHP), 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one, 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, 20 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-3-one, and 5 alpha-pregnane-3 alpha, 20 alpha-diol. The major metabolite formed by the hypothalamus and pituitary was 5 alpha-DHP. In the pituitary samples, formation of 5 alpha-DHP was decreased on Days 15 and 21 of pregnancy compared to Day 1, and formation of 20 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-3-one was decreased on Day 21 compared to Day 1. In the uterine samples, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one was the major metabolite formed at all stages of pregnancy. The formation of all metabolic products of progesterone by the uterus was increased on Day 21 compared to Days 1, 8, and 15 of pregnancy. No changes in the formation of progesterone metabolites were observed in the hypothalamic samples during pregnancy. It is concluded that there are different profiles in the in vitro metabolism of (3H)progesterone by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and uterus of the rat during the course of pregnancy.

• OSTI ID: 5707738
• Journal Information: Endocrinology; (United States), Journal Name: Endocrinology; (United States) Vol. 109:1; ISSN ENDOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FEMALE GENITALS
GLANDS
HORMONES
HYPOTHALAMUS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPE DILUTION
KETONES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHYSIOLOGY
PITUITARY GLAND
PREGNANCY
PREGNANES
PROGESTERONE
RATS
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
UTERUS
VERTEBRATES