Progesterone metabolism in cultured amniotic fluid cells.

Amniotic fluid cells obtained by amnicentesis at 16-20 weeks' gestation were grown in culture until a confluent monolayer of cell had been formed. Radiolabeled pregnenolone, progesterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone were added to the cell cultures; steroid metabolites which formed after 24 and 48 hours of incubation were identified. Incubation of the cell cultures with pregnenolone-3H resulted in the formation of progesterone, 17alpha-progesterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone. A significant amount of progesterone was identified after incubating the cell cultures with 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone. The results indicate that 3 beta-ol-dehydrogenase, 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes are present in cultured amniotic fluid cells obtained at 16-20 weeks' gestation.

Demonstration of gonadotropin during the second half of the cycle in women using intrauterine contraception.

A highly sensitive pregnancy test based upon partial purification of urinary gonadotropins by Sephadex gel filtration and concentration of the gonadotropin-containing fraction by lyophilization has been developed. Values over 100 I.U. per liter after Day 22 are considered to indicate conception. They are verified by radioimmunoassay (RIA) of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in plasma. Urine samples from users of intrauterine contraception were examined at random. Among samples collected after Day 21, 14 contained more than 100 I.U. per liter. In three of these cases, RIA of the beta-subunit HCG in plasma was employed and verified the results. The results support the hypothesis that intrauterine contraception interferes with implantation and establishment of pregnancy but not with fertilization and blastocyst formation.

Metabolism of estradiol in greyhounds and German shepherd dogs. An investigation with special reference to hip dysplasia.

Metabolism of estradiol was investigated in 5 dogs, 3 female Greyhounds with radiographically perfect hip joints and 2 female German Shepherd dogs with hip dysplasia (one pregnant and the other non-pregnant). One of the Greyhounds was studied both when pregnant and non-pregnant. The non-pregnant dogs were injected with C14-labelled estradiol-17beta i.v. and 5 mg estradiol-17beta benzoate i.m. The pregnant dogs were given only radiolabelled estradiol-17beta. Twenty-four-hour-specimens of urine were collected from the dogs for 6--8 days. Determination of urinary estrone, estradiol-17beta, and estriol was made. It was found that most of the injected estradiol was excreted unmetabolized in all dogs. A significant amount of the injected estradiol was converted to estrone and a small amount to estriol. There was no significant difference in the excretion patterns of estrone, estradiol, and estriol between the Greyhounds with perfect hip joints and the German Shepherds with hip dysplasia, regardless whether the dogs were pregnant or not. The conclusion was drawn that the capacity of dogs with hip dysplasia to metabolize estradiol and to eliminate estradiol and metabolites is not impaired.

Comparison of prostaglandin F2alpha and hypertonic saline for induction of midtrimester abortion.

PIP: 20 healthy women between 18-20 weeks of gestation and seeking abortion were studied to compare the effects of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2) with those of instillation of saline solution and intravenous oxytocin. 9 out of 10 patients in the prostaglandin group aborted completely in about 15.16 hours. In only one of the prostaglandin patients did abortion have to be completed surgically. All of the 10 patients in the saline solution-oxytocin group also aborted completely, but with a mean time of 22.34 hours, a difference not statistically significant. The complication rate was higher in patients aborted with PGF2, including postabortion lactation and gastrointestinal effects, especially vomiting. In terms of hormonal changes, the similarities between the 2 groups were more numerous than the differences, suggesting that the 2 mechanics of abortion may not be totally different. Comparative studies on a much larger group of patients are desirable.^ieng

Successful quadruplet pregnancy following ovulation induced with human menopausal gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin.

PIP: A case report of a quadruplet pregnancy that followed the induction of ovulation by human chorionic gonadotropin and human menopausal gonadotropin is presented. Examination revealed 4 separate placentas, indicating development from 4 different ova. The infants all did well at term, with no signs of respiratory distress syndrome, and have developed normally. Early diagnosis by ultrasonography and complete early bedrest are important for fetal survival. Hospitalization at Week 27-28 of pregnancy is essential, and a complete, competent staff able to handle high-risk patients should be available. Intravenous ethanol infusion is useful during early labor. The patient must be carefully observed for postpartum hemorrhage and should be followed in the recovery room for 24 hours.^ieng

Effect of daily administration of 0.5 mg. of chlormadinone acetate on plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone during the menstrual cycle.

PIP: Investigators at Cornell University Medical College and New York Medical College in New York City studied the effects of chlormadinone acetate administration on hormone levels in an effort to better understand the contraceptive mode of action of this drug. 9 healthy women had 2 consecutive cycles studied. While the first cycle was a control cycle, the second one involved chlormadinone acetate administration, .5 mg/day from Day 1 to Day 28 or until the occurrence of spontaneous menstruation if this delayed until after Day 28. Basal body temperature was recorded each morning. Chlormadinone tended to suppress the mean luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone peaks and the plasma progesterone levels. 3 patients are believed to have ovulated during the experimental cycle, but probably in 2 of them the luteal phase was less pronounced than a normal luteal phase. However, 1 of the remaining 6 patients had failed to ovulate in the control cycle. Though limitations exist in the study of the parameters investigated here, such study is necessary since direct evidence of ovulation (e.g., pregnancy, observation of corpus luteum) is usually unobtainable.^ieng