Influence of Purified Adrenal Hormones and Adrenocorticotropin on Progesterone in Decidual Tissue Formation

Abstract

The ovariectomized, pseudopregnant mouse was used to test the effect of cortisone (compound E), hydrocortisone (compound F), 11-desoxycorticosterone and ACTH on the action of progesterone in decidual development. It was observed that following ovariectomy and unilateral uterine traumatization on the 5th day of pseudopregnancy, 0.25 mg progesterone daily on this day of pseudopregnancy and for 3 subsequent days effected a 289% increase over the nontraumatized, contralateral cornu; 0.5 mg daily a 338% increase; 0.75 mg a 440% increase; 1.0 mg a 528% increase, and 1.5 mg a peak reaction of a 615% increase. Larger dosages of progesterone did not produce decidual reactions that were significantly greater than the 615% figure. For the studies involving progesterone and the other compounds named above, 0.75 mg of progesterone was used as the standard daily dose. These results indicate that a 1:1 ratio of ACTH to progesterone inhibits the response of the traumatized uterus from the control figure of 440% down to 100%. Compounds E and F were both quite effective in restricting the action of progesterone, a 1:1 and 2:1 ratio being required of compounds E and F, respectively, for the level of inhibition obtained with ACTH. Tested alone, none of the three compounds (E, F and ACTH) displayed the ability to induce decidual reactions. Desoxycorticosterone, which is progestational, did not inhibit or augment the response to progesterone. These data give added credence to the thought that there may be numerous actions and interactions on the ovarian-uterine-adrenal level.