A QUANTITATIVE METHOD FOR THE BIOASSAY OF PROGESTIN

Abstract

Quantitative measurements of progesterone effects in rabbits are had by measuring ovum size and the degree of glandular proliferation of the mucosa, and combining the 2 sets of measurements gives a rather precise index of hormone activity. A mean ovum diam. of 479.8 [mu] or greater in a single test animal indicates the presence of active progestin; a value of 0.3227 or greater for the ratio of glandular area (G) to total mucosa area ([image]) and a value of 49.30 or greater for the combined index (z) are similarly significant. In a single test animal a dosage of 0.78 mgm. of progesterone can almost always be detected by ovum diam. measurement; similarily the G/M ratio permits the detection of 0.45 mgm. and the combined index a dosage of 0.38 mgm. progesterone.