Direct radioimmunoassay of progesterone in milk using a radioiodinated progesterone derivative

A heterologous radioimmunoassay technique which allows the measurement of progesterone in whole milk, without extraction is described. An antiserum against progesterone-12α-succinyl-BSA and progesterone-11α-(2′-methyl)succinyl-¹²⁵I-thyramine was used. When applied in pregnancy detection on day 20–22, progesterone levels of up to 6 ng/ml or above 8 ng/ml were indicative of an unsuccessful or a successful insemination, respectively.The sensitivity of the assay was 0.8 ng/ml, and the values found in cow milk ranged from 0.8 to 50 ng/ml.     

A double-antibody radioimmunoassay for serum progesterone using progesterone-3-(O-carboxymethyl) oximino-[125I]-iodo-histamine as radioligand.

A reliable, convenient and economical radioimmunoassay (RIA) for serum progesterone has been established and tested. This procedure employs diethyl ether extraction followed by RIA utilizing rabbit anti-11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone 11-hemisuccinyl-bovine serum albumin (progesterone-11 alpha-BSA) serum, progresterone-3-(O-carboxymethyl) oximino-[125I]-iodohistamine (progesterone-3-[125I]) as radioligand and goat anti-rabbit gamma globulin as second antibody. In conjunction with antiprogesterone-11 alpha-BSA serum, the overall assay specificity of the progesterone-3-[125I] RIA is similar to that of the [3H]-progesterone method using dextran-coated charcoal. The results of serum progesterone measurements during the menstrual cycle obtained by the progesterone-3-[125I] RIA appear comparable to those of [3H]-progesterone assays which employ similar anti-progesterone-11 alpha-BSA sera. The progesterone-3-[125I] double-antibody RIA, however, is more convenient and less expensive than the [3H]-progesterone RIA method.     

The in vitro biosynthesis and metabolism of progesterone and estrogens by chimpanzee placental tissue

The biosynthesis and metabolism of progesterone and estrogens have been studied in chimpanzee placental tissue in vitro. The conversion of androstenedione-4-14C to estrone and estradiol-17β and of pregnenolone-7α-3H to progesterone has been demonstrated. In addition, the following metabolites were isolated following incubation of either pregnenolone-7α-3H or progesterone-4-¹⁴C: 20α-dihydroprogesterone, 20β-dihydroprogesterone, 6β-hydroxyprogesterone, 5α-pregnane-3,20 dione. The compound 5α-pregnan-3β o1-20-one was identified only after incubation with pregnenolone-7α-3H, while 5β-pregnane-3, 20 dione was identified only after incubation with progesterone-4-¹⁴C. No estrogens could be demonstrated following the incubation of placental preparations with either of the C₂₁ substrates.     

The use of homologous and hetebologous 125 I-radioligands in the radioimmunoassay of progesterone

Eight homologous and heterologous¹²⁵ I-radioligand systems for the radioimmunoassay of progesterone were examined. Using an antiserum raised to 11α-hydroxyprogesterone 11-succinyl-bovine serum albumin, standard curves were set up with the homologous radioligands, 11α-hydroxyprogesterone 11-succinyl-[¹²⁵I]-iodotyramine, -[¹²⁵I]-iodohistamine and -[¹²⁵I]-iodotyrosine methyl ester. Heterologous bridge systems were represented by progesterone-11α-oxycarbonyl-[¹²⁵I]-iodotyrosine methyl ester and 11α-hydroxyprogesterone 11-phthalyl-[¹²⁵I]-iodotyrosine methyl ester, and heterologous site systems by progesterone-3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime-[¹²⁵I]-iodotyramine, progesterone-12-(O-carboxymethyl) oxime-[¹²⁵ I]-iodotyramine, and progesterone-20-(O-carboxymethyl) oxime-[¹²⁵I]-iodohistamine. The preparation of the steroid derivatives and iodination by a two-phase method are described. The curves obtained from the homologous radioligands were relatively insensitive compared with a tritiated system, with the tyrosine methyl ester derivative providing a more sensitive assay than the corresponding tyramine or histamine analogues. The heterologous bridge systems gave more sensitive curves than the homologous tracers whilst the 3- and 12-(O-carboxymethyl) oxime derivatives of progesterone furnished curves as sensitive as the tritiated reference. Progesterone-20-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime-[¹²⁵I]-iodohistamine was not bound by the antibody.     

Properties of antisera to progesterone and to 17-hydroxy-progesterone elicited by immunization with the steroids attached to protein through position 7

Antibodies to progesterone (P) and to 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) were raised by immunization of rabbits with progesterone-7α-carboxyethyl thioether--bovine serum albumin (P-7—BSA) or with 17-OHP-7α-carboxyethyl thioether--BSA (17-OHP-7--BSA). The antisera produced were of high affinity: K_a towards the homologous hapten was 3. 7 × 10¹⁰ 1./mol for the anti-P serum and 5. 9 × 10⁹ 1/mol for the anti-17-OHP serum. The antiserum to P-7—BSA displayed little or no cross reaction (?= 2%) with the 20α-, 20β- or 5β-dihydro-derivatives of progesterone, moderate cross-reaction with pregnenolone (4%), but considerable cross-reaction with 11-deoxycorticosterone (7%), 5α-dihydro-progesterone (11%) and 17-OHP (15%). The antiserum to 17-OHP-7--BSA showed very little cross-reaction (?= 2%) with progesterone and other steroids lacking a 17α-hydroxyl group, such as pregnenolone or 11-deoxycorticosterone, but reacted significantly with 17α, 21-dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3, 20-dione (8%) and 3β, 17-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (13%). None of the sera reacted with testosterone, cortisol or estradiol-17β. It appears that conjugation of progesterone to protein through carbon-7 affords antisera comparable in specificity to those raised with 11α-conjugates and superior to those raised with 3-, 6- and 20-conjugates. The antiserum to 17-hydroxyprogesterone described is the first one that specifically recognizes this metabolite.     

Progesterone fate in rabbit cornea

Excised cornea from adult New Zealand rabbits were incubated with progesterone-4-14C in Eagle's media for 96 hr. Samples were inactivated at intervals of 24 hr incubation periods. The following metabolites of progesterone were isolated: 20 alpha-Hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, 20-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione; 5 beta-pregnane-3,20-dione and 6 beta-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione. 20 alpha-Hydroxy-pregnen-3-one was the predominant metabolite of progesterone-4-14C. A linear increase was observed throughout 96 hr. The opposite was found for 5 alpha and 5 beta pregnane-3,20-dione. Compounds remaining at the origin of the paper chromatograms contained 6 beta-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione and other still unidentified metabolites of progesterone-4-14C. Presence of 20 alpha and 20 beta-reductase; 5 alpha and 5 beta-reductase and 6 beta-hydroxylase enzyme systems are involved in corneal progesterone metabolism. No fungal neither bacterial enzymatic biotransformation occurred in the culture media.     

Development of a sensitive enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for progesterone determination in unextracted bovine plasma using the second antibody technique

A simple direct enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) on microtiter plates for plasma progesterone using the second antibody coating technique and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as the enzyme label (EIA-HRP) is described and compared with an identical EIA procedure which employed alkaline phosphatase (AP) as the enzyme label (EIA-AP). The assays used antiserum raised against progesterone-7-carboxyethlthioether-BSA in rabbits. Both systems were further compared with the conventional direct progesterone radioimmunoassay (RIA) in regular use. The enzymes HRP and AP were coupled to progesterone-6 beta-hydroxy-hemisuccinate by a mixed anhydride method. While the precision of EIA-HRP was comparable to RIA, the sensitivity in terms of the lowest detection limit obtained in EIA-HRP was about 10 times better than that seen in RIA. Progesterone estimates from plasma samples in EIA-HRP showed good correlation (r = 0.94) with the RIA values and the levels measured in the two systems were identical. Progesterone estimates from plasma samples in EIA-AP were at least three times higher than those obtained by either EIA-HRP or RIA. Thus, only the EIA-HRP but not the EIA-AP was suitable for the reliable direct measurement of progesterone in plasma.     

A highly specific radioimmunoassay for progesterone using antibodies covalently linked to arylamine-glass particles

Antibody was produced in sheep following the administration of the antigen, progesterone-11α-succinyl-BSA. After treatment with Rivanol, the protein of the albumin-free antiserum was covalently bound to arylamine glass particles using glutar-aldehyde as the coupling agent. This antibody-glass preparation was used for measurement of plasma progesterone by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone was extracted from human plasma with petroleum ether. Of those Steroids which are petroleum ether extractable, only pregnenolone exhibited minimal cross-reactivity. Immobilization of the antibody by attachment to an insoluble support allows the separation of free from antibody-bound steroid without the use of absorbents, such as florisil and charcoal.     

The conversion of pregnenolone-7alpha-3H and progesterone-4-14C to estrogens by corpora lutea of menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

The metabolism of pregnenolone-7alpha-3H and progesterone-4-14C by human corpora lutea tissue of menstrual cycles and pregnancy was studied. In the incubations, equimolar mixtures of pregnenolone-7alpha-3H and progesterone-4-14C were used as substrates. Three corpora lutea of cycles were used as minced tissue. From those corpora lutea progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione were formed, although no estrogens were formed. One corpus luteum of cycle and one corpus luteum of pregnancy were used as homogenated tissue, and those formed estrone and estradiol as well as the same three delta4-metabolites. The corpus luteum of cycle also formed testosterone. All metabolites including estrogens showed the lower 3H to 14C ratio than the starting ratio. 17-hydroxypregnenolone in only one corpus luteum, and no delta5-metabolites in the other four corpus luteum were identified. It is therefore proposed that the major pathway for estrogen formation in human corpus luteum is pregnenolone yields progesterone yields 17-hydroxyprogesterone yields androstenedione (or testosterone) yields estrone and estradiol.     

Evaluation of progesterone-ovalbumin conjugates with different length linkers in enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and surface plasmon resonance-based immunoassay

A series of progesterone-4-ovalbumin (OVA) conjugates with different length linkers (4-, 11-, and 18-atoms long) were synthesized by successive aminocaproic acid homologation of 3-(pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione-4-yl)thiopropanoic acid (1) before conjugation to ovalbumin. The performance studies of these progesterone-4-ovalbumin conjugates showed that the effects of the length of linker on the antibody binding are dependent upon different immunoassay formats. In a rapid flow biosensor surface, on a BIAcore Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) instrument, antibody-binding capacities and response rate were dramatically increased for progesterone-4-ovalbumin conjugates when the length of the linker was incremented from 4 atoms to 11 or 18 atoms. Thus, highly sensitive SPR-based immunoassays for progesterone over a range of 0.1-50 ng ml(-1) were developed using biosensor surfaces immobilized with progesterone-ovalbumin conjugates having extended linkers. The SPR-based assays were fully competitive with conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) but much more rapid and simple. However, there were little changes in antibody-binding performance using a conventional ELISA for the same conjugates. The progesterone-4-ovalbumin conjugate (1-OVA) had better antibody binding than its progesterone-7alpha-ovalbumin analog (2-OVA) in the SPR-based assay, but with a conventional ELISA there was no significant difference between these two isomeric conjugates.     

Microinjection of a 19-kDa guanine nucleotide-binding protein inhibits maturation of Xenopus oocytes

ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) are 19-21-kDa proteins purified from bovine brain that bind guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP). They exhibit GTP-dependent activity as activators of cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein of the adenylyl cyclase system (Gs alpha). ARF, which interacts directly with the catalytic subunit of cholera toxin, has no known physiologic role. Intracellular microinjection of ARF was employed to investigate the effect of ARF on progesterone- and insulin-stimulated maturation of Xenopus oocytes. Maturation was inhibited by injection of ARF 3-8 h before exposure of oocytes to progesterone or insulin. ARF inhibition was dependent on progesterone concentration but not on insulin concentration. Inhibition was enhanced by concomitant injection of GTP and to a greater extent by guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) which, in the absence of ARF, inhibited somewhat at early time points. The demonstration of this effect of ARF on both progesterone- and insulin-stimulated oocyte maturation may provide a clue to the physiologic role of this guanine nucleotide-binding protein.     

A direct antigen heterologous enzyme immunoassay for measuring progesterone in serum without using displacer

An antigen heterologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for directly measuring progesterone in serum is described. Six combinations of antigens and enzyme conjugates were tested; the enzyme conjugate 17-alphaOH-progesterone-3-O-carboxymethyloxime-alkalinephosphatase (17-alphaOH-P-3-CMO-ALP) and the immunogen progesterone-3-carboxymethyloxime-bovine serum albumin (P-3-CMO-BSA) were found to be best. Fifty microliters of standard or serum sample and 100 microL of the 17-alphaOH-P-3-CMO-ALP enzyme conjugate were added to the antibody coated wells, and incubated for 1 h at 37 degrees C. Bound enzyme activity was measured by using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.11 ng/mL, and intra- and inter-assay CVs ranged from 5.1% to 9.6%. The analytical recoveries were 97-105%. The serum progesterone values obtained by this method correlated well with those obtained by radioimmunoassay; r=0.97 (n=44). Moreover, in this ELISA no displacing agent was used or special means was required to displace progesterone from corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG). Serum progesterone concentrations of subjects, with histories of recurrent spontaneous abortions were also measured, and correlated well with clinical history.     

Influence of the site of conjugation on the specificity of antibodies to progesterone

In order to determine how the site on the molecule used for conjugation influences the specificty of the resulting antiserum, progesterone was conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) through substituents on the A(C3), B(C6), C(C11), and D(C20) rings for use as a hapten to elicit antibody formation in rabbits. Specificty of the antisera was determined by testing the ability of 24 representative steroids to displace radioactive progesterone in a radioimmunoassay procedure. Progesterone-tyrosine methyl ester (TME) conjugates were radioiodinated and used as the radioactive form of the hormone and radioactivity bound to antibody was separated from free radioactivity by a double antibody procedure. Immunization with progesterone conjugated at C20 resulted in the formation of antibodies which could not distinguish between progesterone and other Δ⁴-3-ketosteroids with structures similar in the A, B, and C ring (namely 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 20α and 20β-hydroxy-4-pregnen-20-one, deoxycorticosterne and testosterone). Immunization with progesterone-3-BSA resulted in the formation of antisera which were fairly specific for progesterone while immunization with progesterone conjugated at the 11 or 6 positions resulted in antisera which were very specific for progesterone. It was concluded that steroid hormones should be conjugated to protein at sites on the B or C ring of the molecule for the production of specific antisera.     

Peroxidation in position C-6 of progesterone-3-ethanolimine is increased by the presence of enzymes generating oxygen radicals

The generation of 6-oxygenated (6 beta-hydroxy, 6 beta-hydroperoxy, and 6-oxo) progesterone derivatives during the hydrolysis of progesterone-3-ethanolimine has been shown to be increased in the presence of xanthine/xanthine oxidase. The combination of xanthine/xanthine oxidase with other enzymes and/or reagents that catalyze transformation (or formation) of oxygen radicals suggested that the most likely oxygen species participating in the 6-oxygenation was the protonated acid of the superoxide anion, i.e., the hydroperoxy radical. The suggestion was further supported by experiments with oxygen scavengers. However, the data presented do not rule out a radical propagation reaction since the steroid compound used may be more reactive than the scavengers tested. A stimulation of 6-oxygenation of progesterone-3-ethanolimine by NADPH-supplemented rat liver microsomes was found. This reaction was inhibited by the only oxygen scavenger (reduced glutathione) found to be effective in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase experiments. The similarities between the two oxygenation systems may implicate a mechanism for 6 beta-hydroperoxidation of 3-oxo-4-ene steroids in rat liver microsomes.     

Pathway of testosterone biosynthesis in the testis of the marmoset Saguinus oedipus

These studies were undertaken to determine the principal pathway of androgen biosynthesis by the testis of the marmoset $\text{Saguinus oedipus}$. Testicular fragments (25 mg) were incubated at 37°C in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, pH 7.4, containing pregnenolone-7-³H (3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one) or progesterone-7-³H. Duplicate fragments were incubated with each substrate for 30 min, one hr, three hr, or five hr, for a total of 16 separate incubations. Metabolites were separated by paper and thin-layer chromatography, with identity established by recrystallization to constant specific activities and ³H/¹⁴C ratios. Pregnenolone was readily metabolized to progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione (4-androstene-3, 17-dione) and testosterone. Progesterone was converted to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone. 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was the predominant metabolite obtained from both substrates at one, three and five hrs of incubation. Neither 17α-hydroxypregnenolone (3β-17-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one) nor dehydroepiandrosterone (3β-hydroxy-5-androsten17-one) was detected in the incubates. These data suggest a predominant Δ⁴ pathway with accumulation of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in the testis of this primate specie.     

Testicular steroidogenesis in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta.

Studies were undertaken to investigate testicular steroidogenesis in the Rhesus monkey Macaca mulatta. Testicular fragments (50 mg) were incubated for 3 hr with pregnenolone-7-3H or with progesterone-7-3H. The major metabolite of pregnenolone was progesterone (70.1%), with a lesser conversion to 17-hydroxyprogesterone (1.6%), androstenedione (3.3%), and testosterone (7.2%). The delta-5 intermediates 17-hydroxypregnenolone (4.6%) and dehydroepiandrosterone (8.6%) were also identified in the pregnenolone incubates. A majority of the progesterone substrate was not metabolized by the testicular fragments (80.1%), while some conversion to 17-hydroxyprogesterone (3.4%), androstenedione (4.8%), and testosterone (11.7%) occurred in the incubates. These results suggest that testicular fragments from the Rhesus monkey may convert pregnenolone to testosterone through both the delta-4 and the delta-5 pathways.     

Biotransformation of pregnenolone - 7alpha-3H, progesterone - 7alpha-3H and dehydroepiandrosterone - 7alpha-3H by porcine fetal and maternal adrenal homogenate preparations.

The biotransformation of pregnenolone-7alpha-3H and of progesterone-7alpha-3H by porcine fetal and maternal adrenal homogenates at 56 and 112 days of pregnancy and of dehydroepiandrosterone-7alpha-3H by fetal adrenal homogenates has been investigated in vitro. Both pregnenolone-7alpha-3H and progesterone-7alpha-3H were metabolized extensively by maternal adrenal preparations, the principal radioactive metabolites isolated being cortisol, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, deoxycorticosterone, 11beta-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione. In addition, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone and cortisone were formed from both substrates and 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone and progesterone were formed from pregnenolone. Although essentially the same radioactive metabolites were isolated after incubation of fetal adrenal glands with pregnenolone-7alpha-3H or progesterone-7alpha-3H, a greater proportion of the radioactivity was associated with corticosteroids at 112 days of pregnancy than at 56 days. 11beta-Hydroxyandrostenedione and androstenedione were isolated and identified together with an unknown polar metabolite, after incubation of fetal adrenal tissue with dehydroepiandrosterone-7alpha-3H. These results are discussed in relation to feto-placental steroid biosynthesis and metabolism and the role of the fetal adrenal in the initiation of parturition in the pig.     

Determination of progesterone and some of its neuroactive ring A-reduced metabolites in human serum

A method for the separation and assay of some ring A-reduced metabolites of progesterone (pregnanediones and pregnanolones) is described. Serum was extracted with an organic solvent, and the extract chromatographed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 50 fractions was collected for each sample and split using a stream splitter so that 30% was collected in counting vials for recovery while 70% was collected in test tubes which were assayed by radioimmunoassay. An antiserum raised in our laboratory to progesterone-3-CMO-BSA cross-reacted with five of these compounds (5alpha- and 5beta-dihydroprogesterone, 3alpha- and 3beta-5alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone, and 3beta, 5beta-tetrahydroprogesterone). Since pregnenolone eluted with 5alpha, 3beta-tetrahydroprogesterone, pregnenolone was assayed separately and its effect subtracted. Using this method it was shown that picogram to nanogram/ml amounts of these metabolites are present in all human sera. Levels in men were comparable to those of women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. 5alpha-Dihydroprogesterone and 3alpha,5alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone rose substantially in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and all rose considerably during pregnancy.     

The effect of progesterone, oestradiol and HCG on cell-mediated immunity in pregnant mice.

During pregnancy in mice, cell-mediated immunity as measured by a contact allergic reaction to picryl chloride was diminished (P less than 0.001). Mice in which delay of implantation was maintained by progesterone, and mice with progesterone- and oestradiol-maintained pregnancies, also showed a reduction in the inflammatory response. The response of pseudopregnant mice did not differ from that of the non-pregnant controls. Young mice sensitized before complete immunological competence gave a 50% response. The response doubled in animals given a second sensitization. The extent of the response in females with delay of implantation varied inversely with the dose of progesterone. A range of oestrogen doses gave the same depression in the response when given to pseudopregnant animals. Administration of HCG to pseudopregnant mice also reduced the inflammatory response.