PROGESTINS OF THE BOVINE OVARY

Abstract

Ovaries from non-pregnant cows and heifers, obtained shortly after slaughter, were extracted with ethyl acetate and then defatted in cold 70% methanol. The resulting extracts were chromatographed on paper and the isolated compounds identified by: (1) mobility on paper, (2) formation of derivatives and (3) ultra-violet and sulfuric acid spectra. Quantitative estimates from ultra-violet spectra indicated 4.33 μg. of progesterone and 0.79 μg- of Δ⁴-pregnene-20β-ol-3-one per gram of ovarian tissue. A trace of an ultra-violet absorbing compound that chromatographed like Δ⁴-androstene-3,17-dione or Δ⁴-pregnene-20α-ol-3-one and a very polar material were also detected.