title: Regulation of serum-progesterone in patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: Increased levels of progesterone in serum have been reported in male patients with essential hypertension (EH). We, therefore, investigated serum progesterone levels in relation to excretion of aldosterone after 4 days of low Na+ intake and 6 days following high Na+ diets, in 11 normotensive controls, 22 male patients with EH and 8 male patients with hypertension of renal origin (RH). In the group of normotensive controls, the concentration of progesterone in serum averaged 228 +/- 90 and 186 +/- 93 (mean +/- SD) pg/ml during low and high regimens of Na+ intake, respectively, despite a fall in the excretion of aldosterone from 22.8 +/- 9 to 1.8 +/- 1.4 microgram/24 h. Similarly, in patients with EH, serum progesterone remained unchanged during either low or high Na+ intake regimens: 197 +/- 73 and 219 +/- 83 pg/ml, respectively. In patients with RH, serum progesterone tended to be lower during both low and high Na+ diets: 167 +/- 61 and 185 +/- 72 pg/ml, respectively. In 5 normotensive controls, diurnal variations of progesterone and cortisol were significantly correlated (r = 0.726, p < 0.005). The results of the present study suggest, that progesterone is not involved in metabolism of Na+, either in normotensive or hypertensive male subjects. Correlation between circadian variations of progesterone and cortisol suggests, that progesterone levels are modified by ACTH secretion.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000652:urine; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D012964:Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D012964:Sodium