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Progesterone Content of Bovine Reproductive Organs and Blood during Pregnancy¹

Iowa State College, Ames^,3

Abstract

A chemical study has been made of the progesterone concentration of the corpus luteum, residual ovarian tissue, placenta, allantoic and amniotic fluids and blood of the cow during pregnancy. The corpus luteum contained the greatest concentration of progesterone and residual ovarian tissue the next greatest. During the first 49 days of gestation the average progesterone concentration (mcg. per gm.), on a fresh-weight basis, was 2.3 for luteal tissue, 1.1 for residual ovarian tissue, 0.08 for placenta, 0.06 for allantoic fluid and 0.02 for amniotic fluid. During the interval between 90–129 days the concentration was 5.0 for luteal tissue, 2.7 for residual ovarian tissue, 0.16 for placenta, 0.07 for allantoic fluid, 0.04 for amniotic fluid and 1.7 for adrenal gland. During the final 30 days of pregnancy the concentration was 1.1 for luteal tissue, 0.8 for residual ovarian tissue, 0.03 for placenta, 0.04 for allantoic fluid, 0.02 for amniotic fluid and 0.7 for adrenal gland.

The progesterone contents of the corpus luteum and of the residual ovarian tissue were greatest during the period between 90–129 days of gestation. The placental content was at a maximum during the interval between 170–209 days. The largest amount of hormone was present in the allantoic fluid between 170–209 days and in the amniotic fluid between 210–249 days. The progesterone content of the adrenal gland reached a maximum during the period between 170–209 days of pregnancy.

The progesterone concentration in whole blood ranged from 0.9 mcg. per 100 ml. during early pregnancy to 4.0 mcg. at about the eighth month of gestation.

The presence of progesterone in purified extracts of reproductive tissues and fluids was confirmed by a positive Zimmerman reaction and infra-red absorption spectra indicating a carbon –20 carbonyl group and a –4, 3 keto group characteristic of progesterone.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-3450 of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 1325.

² Acknowledgment is made of suggestions by Dr. D. T. Mayer, University of Missouri, and Dr. A. M. Gawienowski, Kansas State College. Materials used were made available by Mr. J. R Zeis, Manager, Iowa Packing Co., Des Moines, Iowa.

³ Departments of Animal Husbandry and Chemistry.