title: The anabolic effects of progesterone on fetal rat calvaria in tissue culture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effects of progesterone and cortisol on [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA, total DNA content, and [3H] proline incorporation into collagen using a bone organ culture system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of nine experiments conducted at the University of Connecticut after approval by the animal care committee. Fetal rat half calvaria were cultured in the presence of progesterone (10(-5) to 10(-15) mol/L) and/or cortisol (10(-7) mol/L). Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a biphasic increase in [3H] thymidine incorporation and DNA content of the tissue sample with progesterone treatment, with peaks at both high and low concentrations. Significant increases in [3H] proline incorporation were noted at concentrations of 10(-6) to 10(-10) mol/L of progesterone. Similar responses were observed in the presence of cortisol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progesterone increased [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA, total DNA content, and [3H] proline incorporation into collagen proteins in cultured fetal rat calvaria over a wide range of progesterone concentrations in the presence and absence of cortisol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Manzi
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pilbeam
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Raisz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine