FAILURE TO ANTAGONIZE THE ACTION OF STRADIOL ON THE CORPUS LUTEUM BY PROGESTERONE OR TESTOSTERONE

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh

Experiments were made to determine whether the action of cestradiol in maintaining the luteal function in hypophysectomized rabbits can be antagonized by progesterone or by testosterone propionate. The luteal function was maintained when pseudo-pregnant rabbits were hypophysectomized and then received (1) 1·0 µg. of oestradiol per day, or (2) 1·0 µg. of oestradiol and 10 mg. of progesterone per day, or (3) 1·0 µg. of oestradiol and 10 mg. of testosterone propionate per day. The luteal function was not maintained in pseudo-pregnant hypophysectomlized animals receiving 10 mug. of progesterone or 10 ieg. of testosterone propionate per day.

It is concluded that the action of oestradiol on the corpus luteum is not antagonized by progesterone or by testosterone propionate.

The expenses of this investigation were defrayed by a grant from the Medical Research Council.