Nature 177, 478 - 479 (10 March 1956); doi:10.1038/177478b0

Comparative Antistrogenic Potencies of Progesterone and 17-Hydroxyprogesterone

ELVIRA MARDONES, DUSAN JADRIJEVIC & A. LIPSCHUTZ

Instituto de Medicina Experimental, Servicio Nacional de Salud, Av. Irarrázaval 849, Santiago, Chile. October 15.

PROGESTERONE is known to be not only a progestational compound but also to exert various antistrogenic actions: it prevents strogen-induced abdominal fibroids, strogen-induced growth of the myometrium, and strogen-induced excessive luteinization¹. The antistrogenic potency of progesterone is diminished by oxidation at C₂₁, C₁₁ and C₁₇ ^2,3. The validity of this rule has been demonstrated by comparing progesterone with C₁₁-derivatives such as 11-hydroxyprogesterone and 11-keto-progesterone, and with a C₂₁-derivative such as deoxycorticosterone. As to oxidation at C₁₇, comparison was made between deoxycorticosterone and Reichstein's compound S or 17-OH-11-deoxycorticosterone². Thus the conclusion as to loss of antistrogenic potencies due to oxidation at C₁₇ in the -position has been so far an indirect one; a comparison of progesterone with 17-hydroxyprogesterone was still lacking. Results with the latter are given in the present communication.

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