[The effect of androgen on the maintenance of pregnancy in progesterone-treated ovariectomized rats].
Pregnant rats ovariectomized on day 14 of pregnancy (Sperm present = day 1) were daily treated with 4 mg progesterone (P) plus androgens, and the effects of the androgens on fetal survival and intrauterine pressure were examined on day 20 of pregnancy. In the rats treated with P only, the percentage of live normal fetuses was only 40.4% of the total fetuses, 39.4% were injured fetuses having hematoma on their extremities, and 20.2% were absorbing. Intrauterine pressure was about three times higher than that in the sham-operated controls. Treatment with androgen as well significantly increased the percentage of live normal fetuses and decreased intrauterine pressure, as estrogen did. A significant negative correlation was observed between the percentage of live normal fetuses and intrauterine pressure. Androstenediol (A-diol) was most effective and its daily dose of 2 microM maintained normal pregnancy. A-diol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) were more effective than androstenedione (A-dione) and testosterone (T), suggesting that the effect of the former two androgens is not by conversion to estrogen, but by their direct action on the uterine wall. 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, a non-aromatizable androgen, also exhibited moderate estrogenic action.
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000734:Androstenediols / Q000494:pharmacology; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced; D011247:Pregnancy; D011255:Pregnancy Maintenance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000728:Androgens; D000734:Androstenediols; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone