In vivo production of steroids with central depressant actions by the ovary of the rat

• Published in: British journal of pharmacology 1971-11, Vol.43 (3), p.560-569
• Main Author: HOLZBAUER, MARGARETHE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autopharmacology; Brain - drug effects; Chromatography, Gas; Chromatography, Paper; Estrus; Female; Hydroxyprogesterones - biosynthesis; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Ovary - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnanes - biosynthesis; Pregnanes - pharmacology; Pregnenolone - biosynthesis; Progesterone - biosynthesis; Rats; Secretory Rate; Sterols - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0007-1188; 1476-5381
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1971.tb07186.x

Summary 1 In addition to progesterone and 20‐dihydroprogesterone, the following unconjugated steroids were isolated from ovarian tissue and ovarian venous blood of mature, non‐pregnant rats: pregnenolone, 3βOH‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one, 3αOH‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one, 20αOH‐5α‐pregnan‐3‐one and 5α‐pregnane‐3α, 20α‐diol. 2 Their concentration in the ovarian tissue and their secretion rates into the ovarian venous blood was of the same order of magnitude as that of progesterone. 3 In the evening of the day of pro‐oestrus significant increases in the ovarian contents of the following steroids were observed: progesterone,+ 140%; 3αOH‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one, +320%; 20αOH‐5α‐pregnan‐3‐one, +195%; sum of pregnenolone and 3βOH‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one, +275%. 4 At the same time the ovarian progesterone secretion rate was increased by 365%, that of 3αOH‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one by 190%. 5 A possible physiological role of the ovarian allopregnane derivatives as central depressant agents is discussed.