Danazol suppresses luteal function in vitro and in vivo.
Danazol inhibited chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated progesterone production by pregnant rat luteal cells in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion. Spectral studies indicated that the inhibition was a consequence of danazol's interfering with the functioning of mitochondrial cytochrome P-450, an essential component of the enzyme system involved in progesterone biosynthesis. Danazol also suppressed luteal function in vivo, serum levels of progesterone being reduced by 50% to 70% when danazol (50 mg/kg) was administered thrice daily to rats from days 10 to 15 of pregnancy. Since danazol (30 microM) also inhibited progesterone production by human luteal cells in vitro and was dominant to the luteotrophic action of chorionic gonadotropin, it is suggested that danazol may have some potential as an interceptive agent in humans.
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000187:drug effects*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D003613:Danazol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects; D011245:Pregnadienes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011245:Pregnadienes; D011374:Progesterone; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D003613:Danazol