Secretion of pregnane compounds from polycystic ovaries of androgen-sterilized rats.
Progesterone, 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (5 alpha-DHP), 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha-OH), 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20 alpha-DHP), 20 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-3-one, and 5 alpha-pregnane-3 alpha, 20 alpha-diol in ovarian venous plasma of androgen-sterilized rats treated with 25 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were assayed by gas chromatography. The compounds listed were essentially undetectable in polycystic ovaries of the androgen-sterilized rats. However, after injection of hCG, levels of these steroids were high. Levels of progesterone and 5 alpha-pregnane compounds reached a peak within 1 or 2 days after hCG treatment and then fell slowly. The level of 20 alpha-DHP reached a peak on day 4 after hCG treatment and remained high thereafter. Injection of 2 micrograms of luteinizing hormone (LH) before sample collection increased the secretion of progesterone at all times tested except when it was already at a peak. The secretion of 5 alpha-DHP and 3 alpha-OH was also increased by LH after hCG treatment, but the ability of the ovary to produce these steroids was not, suggesting that there was low 5 alpha-reductase activity in the cystic ovary before hCG treatment. The results suggest that ovulation and luteinization in cystic follicles may cause the low activities of 5 alpha-reductase and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in polycystic ovaries of androgen-sterilized rats to increase.
Sawada
T
T
Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Agriculture, University of Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011278:Pregnanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013739:Testosterone
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011278:Pregnanes; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone