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THE EFFECTS OF PROGESTERONE, TESTOSTERONE AND ERGOCORNINE ON NON-PREGNANT AND PREGNANT GUINEA-PIGS

Summary.: In guinea-pigs absorbing 0·1 mg or more progesterone daily from solid, subcutaneous tablets, follicles grow and regress normally as do existing corpora lutea, but ovulation is completely inhibited. The uterus, in the absence of cyclic changes, is continuously stimulated by ovarian oestrogens in progesterone-treated animals. It enlarges, sometimes becoming enormous, and shows various pathological changes. These are absent from the uteri of ovariectomized animals treated with progesterone. Five males which absorbed 0·26 to 1·7 mg progesterone daily for 30 to 64 days had normal reproductive organs.

Testosterone propionate, similarly administered, also inhibits ovulation; additionally it leads to a reduction in follicle growth and ovary size. Both steroids showed steady, slow rates of absorption as determined from tablet weights before and after implantation.

Ergocornine, which is said to inhibit corpus luteum secretion in rats, had no such effect on corpora lutea in non-pregnant and pregnant guinea-pigs, when injected in solution.