Mineralocorticoid and hypertensive effects of 19-nor-progesterone.
The mineralocorticoid potency of 19-nor-progesterone was evaluated by both its effect on electrolyte excretion in adrenalectomized animals and its ability to cause hypertension and electrolyte changes in mononephrectomized, salt-loaded rats. The mineralocorticoid activity, measured using an adrenalectomized rat bioassay, indicated that 19-nor-progesterone was 2.5% as potent as aldosterone but did not antagonize the effect of aldosterone when both were administered. In mononephrectomized rats, the daily administration of 1 mg/day quickly caused an enhanced consumption of 1% saline and induced severe hypertension within 3-4 weeks. Some severely hypertensive animals had marked anemia, but other did not; as a group they were found to have hypernatremia and hypokalemia. Hypertensive animals were found during life to display a relative hypothermia and, at necropsy, to have heart and kidney enlargement with severe and extensive vascular lesions in both organs, but not adrenal hypertrophy. It is concluded that 19-nor-progesterone has the characteristics of a potent mineralocorticoid and, as such, is capable of causing hypertension. It is not yet clear why this should be accompanied by hypothermia.
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009653:Norprogesterones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine
D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D009652:Norpregnenes; D009653:Norprogesterones; C030703:19-norprogesterone; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium