Isolation and characterization of 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and progesterone in pepipheral blood of pregnant women. measurement throughout pregnancy

Milewich L, Gomez-Sanchez C, Madden JD, MacDonald PC

Gynecologic Investigation, 6(5), 291-306, 1975

Isolation and characterization of 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and progesterone in pepipheral blood of pregnant women. measurement throughout pregnancy

Milewich L , Madden JD , Gomez-Sanchez C

Author affiliations

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ROR

Read at source

Abstract

5alpha-Pregnane-3,20-dione and progesterone were isolated from a pregnancy plasma pool and were identified by using a combination of chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry. Antibodies to progesterone were obtained in rabbits by immunization with progesterone-1alpha-carboxyethyl-thioether-thyroglobulin. The raised antibodies were of high affinity and one of them cross-reacted (137%) with 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione. This property was used to develop radioimmunoassays for measuring circulating levels of both progesterone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione in pregnancy plasma. The levels of both progesterone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione increase throughout pregnancy, but a highly significant increase is observed only after the 32nd week of gestation.

Topics

Pregnancy > Hormonal Changes > Progesterone Levels Diagnostics > Hormone Assays > Radioimmunoassay Development Reproductive Endocrinology > Steroid Metabolism > Progesterone Metabolites

progesterone levels throughout pregnancy measurement, 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione pregnancy plasma isolation, progesterone radioimmunoassay pregnancy peripheral blood, steroid hormone increase third trimester 32 weeks gestation, Milewich MacDonald progesterone pregnancy plasma, 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone pregnancy characterization mass spectrometry, progesterone antibody cross-reactivity radioimmunoassay development, circulating progesterone concentration pregnancy progression, pregnane steroid metabolites peripheral blood pregnant women, progesterone immunization thyroglobulin antibody pregnancy assay

Cite this article

Milewich, L., Gomez-Sanchez, C., Madden, J. D., & MacDonald, P. C. (1975). Isolation and characterization of 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and progesterone in pepipheral blood of pregnant women. measurement throughout pregnancy. Gynecologic investigation, 6(5), 291-306.

Keywords

Animals, Antibodies, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Pregnancy Trimester, Third, Pregnanediones/blood/isolation & Purification, Progesterone/blood/immunology/isolation & Purification, Rabbits/immunology, Radioimmunoassay, Antibodies, Pregnanediones, Progesterone

Reproductive EndocrinologyProgesterone MetabolitesAntibiotic Effects on HormonesUrinary and Fecal Steroids

Excretion of progesterone metabolites and estriol in faeces from pregnant women during ampicillin administration

Martin F et al., 1975J Steroid Biochem

Progesterone metabolites and estriol were determined in urine and faeces collected daily from three pregnant women (33–37 weeks) before and during ampicillin administration (2 g/day orally). Two of the three subjects showed marked changes in their faecal steroid excretion during the faecal progesterone-metabolite pattern changed from containing 69–79% unconjugated metabolites and 19–26% glucuronides under control conditions, to high steroid sulphate content (28–44%); the faecal elimination of 3β-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one and 5α-pregnane-3β,20α-diol glucuronide all but ceased; two 16α-hydroxylated progesterone metabolites were detected in significant amounts in faeces during ampicillin administration but not under normal conditions. Steroid sulphate hydrolysis, epimerization of 3α,5αto 3β,5α-steroids and 16α-dehydroxylation are all well known actions of intestinal bacteria on biliary steroids. It thus seems clear that the changes found in the faecal progesterone metabolite pattern are due to the reduction of the intestinal flora by ampicillin. Under control conditions the bulk of the faecal estriol was unconjugated. During ampicillin administration this excretion remained unchanged but in addition large quantities of conjugated estriol appeared in the faeces, apparently as a result of inhibition of bacterial deconjugation. Ampicillin administration also caused decreased urinary excretion of estriol and pregnanediol glucuronide. It seems likely that these well documented effects of ampicillin on urinary steroid excretion are caused by an interruption of the enterohepatic circulation of steroids which results from the inhibition of intestinal steroid metabolism described above.

Reproductive EndocrinologyHistory of DiscoveryHormone Research

Recollections of my life with progesterone

Allen WM, 1974Gynecol Invest

This paper gives in narrative style those phases of the corpus luteum story in which the author was an active participant. The first part deals with the exciting days at the University of Rochester where the pure hormone was isolated in 1933 and where many of the effects of the hormone on target tissues were elucidated. The origin of the name, progesterone, is given as a fine example of international cooperation in the selection of a name which has been universally accepted. The accidental discovery of the ‘Blue Color Test’ for DHIA and the development of the Allen-Correction at Washington University in St. Louis are recounted as sideline adventures in science. The final part recounts the steps, extending over a period of 40 years, which have clarified the role of the human corpus luteum in pregnancy.

Isolation and characterization of 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and progesterone in pepipheral blood of pregnant women. measurement throughout pregnancy

Abstract

Topics

Cite this article

Keywords

Related articles

Excretion of progesterone metabolites and estriol in faeces from pregnant women during ampicillin administration

Recollections of my life with progesterone