Abstract
THE two epimers 20α-hydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3-one (20α-progesterol) and 20β-hydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3-one (20β-progesterol) are in metabolic equilibrium with progesterone in ovaries1–5, in the placenta5,6, and probably in the adrenals7. They have also been isolated from ovarian and adrenal venous blood3,8–13, their relative concentrations and their distribution varying from one species of animal to another14. 20α-Progesterol and 20β-progesterol possess certain progestational properties5,15,16. The purpose of the experiment described here was to determine to what extent and under what conditions the two epimers are able, like progesterone, to maintain pregnancy in the spayed rat.
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TALWALKER, P., KRÄHENBÜHL, C. & DESAULLES, P. Maintenance of Pregnancy in Spayed Rats with 20α-Hydroxypregn-4-ene-3-one and 20β-Hydroxypregn-4-ene-3-one. Nature 209, 86–87 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209086a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/209086a0
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