1. Department of Nephrology-Hypertension University of Antwerp, University Hospital Antwerp Wilrijkstraat 10, 2520 Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium;2. Department of Molecular Biology State University Gent, Gent, Belgium
Abstract:
Daily progesterone administration (1.33 mg/kg body weight) to immature rabbits brought about an initial increase in the uterine content of uteroglobin which, however, subsided when progesterone treatment was continued for 10 days. During this treatment period progesterone did not lose its own uterine receptors nor did it lose its inhibitory effect on the accumulation of occupied nuclear estrogen receptors. Since immature rabbits were used, the decrease of uteroglobin concentration cannot be explained by inhibitory effects of endogenous estrogens. The results suggest that termination of uteroglobin secretion may be a selective and inherent effect of progesterone itself.