Metabolism of progesterone in mouse brain.
Incubation of whole mouse brain homogenate with [3H]progesterone resulted in two metabolites: the 5 alpha-reduced product, 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and another metabolite at a 3-fold greater yield. This differed from rat brain, which produced predominantly the 5 alpha-reduced metabolite under the same conditions. Subcellular fractionation of mouse brain demonstrated a particulate location for the 5 alpha-reduction of progesterone and a cytosolic location for the production of the unknown major metabolite. Treatment of this unknown metabolite with chromium trioxide resulted in a reconversion to progesterone, indicating the presence of a hydroxyl at position 3 or 20. Comparison of the chromatographic behaviour of the unknown metabolite with that of authentic progesterone derivatives suggested that this metabolite corresponds to 20-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3-one.
Carey
M P
MP
Department of Physiology, University College London, U.K.
Aniszewski
C A
CA
Fry
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011372:Progestins / Q000378:metabolism
D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone