Progesterone is a hormone released by luteal cells in the ovaries which contains 21 Carbon Atoms. Progesterone is also a crucial metabolic intermediate in the production of other endogenous steroids. There are two crystal forms of progesterone, that are type-α and type-β, the two types have similar physiological activity. Type-α is precipitated from dilute ethanol as orthorhombic white prismatic crystal, while type-β is orthorhombic white needle crystal, they are both insoluble in water, but soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether, chloroform, acetone, dioxane and concentrated sulfuric acid.
Progesterone can be released by the ovary, placenta and adrenal cortex. Its physiological function mainly manifests in promoting estrogen treated over thicken lining of the uterus to continue the development, proliferation and thickening and hypertrophy, soften and secretion of mucus in order to make good condition for implantation of the fertilized egg. After the implantation, early stage survival and development of fertilized egg is also under the control of the high progesterone release. As a result, progesterone is a very important hormone in the female reproductive system, and it is also an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones. All steroid hormone releasable glands can produce progesterone, but only ovarian and placenta can release progesterone as the main hormone. Ovarian will release large amount of progesterone in the luteal phase after ovulation by granulose luteal cells, so progesterone is also named as progestin. Progesterone will decrease in result of corpus luteum atrophy. For normal women, placenta will becomes the main organ maintain progesterone after 8 to 9 weeks of pregnancy, accompany with the ovary releasing until the end of pregnancy.
The main physiological effects of progesterone:
1. Progesterone can maintain the female animal pregnancy, and cause a series of physiological changes, such as inhibition of female estrus.
2. Progesterone has the power to promote the thickening of the lining of the uterus, promote the bending of the gland and to increase secretion function.
3. Progesterone can inhibit the peristalsis of the uterus, and contribute to the cervix contraction, secretion of mucus, etc.. These physiological changes provide suitable environment for the operation, growth and development of early embryos, as well as the continued growth of the fetus.
4. Small amount of progesterone is also used in combination with the hormone estrogen to promote female estrus. The synergy between progesterone and prolactin can promote the development of mammary glands.
5. Progesterone is involved in the feedback regulation of the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, which makes the balance of the animal reproductive hormones. In vivo, progesterone content of all sorts of livestock follicular phase is below 1 ng/ml, while in bovine corpus luteum period is approximately 4 ng/ml, pregnancy period is about 18 ng/ml.
6. Formerly biochemical study shows that progesterone modulates action as progestogens, clinical for the treatment of habitual abortion, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and other symptoms. One of progesterone's most important functions is as hormone drugs, to promote and maintain the uterine changes in the early stage of pregnancy, used in habitual abortion, irregular menstruation, etc.. In addition, progesterone also behaves as steroid hormone drug as well as progestogens, which is used in treatment of threatened abortion.
Progesterone can be obtained by oxidation of the pregnenolone. Dry toluene was added to a oven dried reaction kettle, and then cyclohexanone and pregnenolone were added in order with vigorous stirring to dissolve. Side product H2O was removed by Soxhlet extraction with toluene steam, aluminium isopropoxidequickly was added flowingly, the oxidation reaction was hold on at 115 oC for 2h, cooling to 80 oC, add 5% dilute sulfuric acid under stirring then stand by until water and toluene separated, the toluene layer was extracted with water to neutrality and then distillation off toluene and cyclohexanone. Cooling, filtering, filter cake was beated with petroleum, filtering, washing with petroleum, dried as crude progesterone. The crude product was dissolved in ethanol, decolorized by activated carbon, recrystallized to get the final product, yield 80%.
Another way to produce progesterone is choosing the 16-Dehydropregnenolone acetate as start material, treated consecutively by catalytic hydrogenation, alkali hydrolysis, oxidation by aluminum isopropoxide, to get the progesterone as final product.
Progesterone, along with pregnenolone, is the biosynthetic precursor of all other steroid hormones. Progesterone is synthesized from cholesterol by the sequential action of desmolase in the mitochondria, which produces pregnenolone, followed by Δ4,5-isomerase in the outer mitochondrial membrane and smooth endoplasmic reticulum of steroid-secreting cells. Progesterone activates the human progesterone receptor with an EC50 value of 0.5 nM.
White powder. Melting point 121°C. Stable in air. Insoluble in water. A female sex hormone. Low toxicity.
Colchicum luteum also yields this alkaloid.
Steroid hormone produced by the corpus luteum. Induces maturation and secretory activity of the uterine endothelium; suppresses ovulation. Progesterone is implicated in the etiology of breast cancer.This compound is a contaminant of emerging concern (CECs).
Progesterone is used as a contraceptive, for amenorrhea, for premenopausal syndrome,
infertility, incomplete pregnancies, and anovulatory uterine bleeding.
ChEBI: Progesterone is a C21-steroid hormone in which a pregnane skeleton carries oxo substituents at positions 3 and 20 and is unsaturated at C(4)-C(5). As a hormone, it is involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy and embryogenesis of humans and other species. It has a role as a contraceptive drug, a progestin, a progesterone receptor agonist, a human metabolite and a mouse metabolite. It is a 20-oxo steroid, a 3-oxo-Delta(4) steroid and a C21-steroid hormone. It derives from a hydride of a pregnane.
Crinone (Columbia); Prometrium (Unimed).
Progesterone is a hormone, produced primarily by the corpus luteum of the ovary but also by the placenta, that prepares the inner lining of the uterus for implantation ofa fertilized egg cell. If implantation fails, the corpus luteum degenerates and progesterone production ceases accordingly. If implantation occurs,the corpus luteum continues to secrete progesterone, under the influence of luteinizing hormone and prolactin, for several months of pregnancy,by which time the placenta has taken over this function. Duringpregnancy, progesterone maintains the constitution of the uterus and prevents further release of eggs from the ovary. Small amounts of progesterone are produced by the testes.
Progesterone, pregn-4-en-3,20-dione, is so rapidly metabolized that it is not particularlyeffective orally, being only one twelfth as active as intramuscularly.An oral formulation of micronized progesterone(Prometrium) is available. Progesterone given intramuscularlycan be very irritating. A vaginal gel containing 4% or8% progesterone offers an alternative dosage form.Progesterone was originally obtained from animal ovariesbut is now prepared synthetically from plant sterol precursors.The discovery of 19-nortestosterones with progesteroneactivity made synthetically modified progestins of tremendoustherapeutic importance.
Progesterone (and all other steroid 4-ene-3-ones) is lightsensitive and should be protected from light.
Progesterone is sensitive to light .
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Progesterone may be absorbed through the skin.
Flash point data for Progesterone are not available; however, Progesterone is probably combustible.
Endogenous progesterone receptor (PR) agonist (EC 50 = 0.5 nM).
Induces maturation and secretory activity of the uterine endothelium; suppresses ovulation. Progesterone is implicated in the etiology of breast cancer.
During the second half of the menstrual cycle, progesterone promotes glandular growth in the endometrium, hyperemia of the uterus, thickening of the endometrium in preparation for implantation of a fertilized egg, and reduces the excitability of the uterus during pregnancy, inhibiting its activity and relaxing smooth muscles , allowing the embryo to grow safely. Under the joint action of estrogen, progesterone promotes the development of breast lobules and glands, so that the breasts can fully develop and prepare for lactation. Progesterone closes the cervix, reduces and thickens the mucus, and makes it difficult for sperm to penetrate; in large doses, it inhibits the secretion of pituitary gonadotropin through a negative feedback effect on the hypothalamus, resulting in the inhibition of ovulation. After ovulation, on the basis of the action of progesterone hormone, the endometrium continues to thicken and hyperemia, the glands proliferate and branch, from the proliferative phase to the secretory phase, which is conducive to the implantation and embryonic development of pregnant eggs. Progesterone inhibits uterine contractions and reduces the sensitivity of the uterus to oxytocin, allowing the fetus to grow safely. Progesterone competes against aldosterone, thereby promoting Na and Cl excretion and diuresis. Progesterone can slightly increase body temperature in normal women, so the basal body temperature in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is higher than that in the follicular phase.
NTP 10th Report
on Carcinogens. IARC Cancer Review:
Animal Lirmted Evidence IMEMDT 21,491,79; Animal Sufficient Evidence
IMEMDT 6,135,74. EPA Genetic
Toxicology Program. Reported in EPA
TSCA Inventory.
SAFETY PROFILE: Confirmed carcinogen
with experimental carcinogenic,
neoplastigenic, tumorigenic, and teratogenic
data. Poison by intravenous and
intraperitoneal routes. Human teratogenic
effects by ingestion and parenteral routes:
developmental abnormalities of the
urogenital system. Human male
reproductive effects by intramuscular route:
changes in spermatogenesis, the prostate,
seminal vesicle, Cowper's gland and
accessory glands, impotence, and breast
development. Human female reproductive
effects by ingestion, parenteral, and
intravaginal routes: ferthty changes;
menstrual cycle changes and disorders;
uterus, cervix, and vagina changes.
Experimental reproductive effects. Human
mutation data reported. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes.
Progesterone, pregn-4-en-3,20-dione (28.3.1), is made by oxidizing pregnenolon
with aluminum isopropylate in the presence of cyclohexanone as a proton acceptor
(Oppenauer oxidation). Pregnenolon itself is made by subsequent oxidation
and further cleavage of the side chain of stigmasterin, a sterin of plant origin that is isolated
from soybeans.
Progesterone is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals.
The form crystallises from EtOH with m 127-131o. The -form crystallises from pet ether or aqueous pet ether/aqueous Et2O with m 119-120o or 121o. It also crystallises from Et2O, Me2CO/EtOAc, MeOH, aqueous Et2O, aqueous MeOH, wet pet ether, Et2O/pet ether, pet ether/*C6H6, Et2O/pentane and isopropyl ether. The is at 240nm with log 4.25 (EtOH). [Wintersteiner & Allen J Biol Chem 107 max 321 1934, Beilstein 7 III 3648, 7 IV 2395.]
