Effects of Androstenedione on Early Pregnancy in the Hamster

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Abstract
Inter-ference with pregnancy has been demonstrated in hamsters given androstenedione before implantation. The failure of pregnancy was attributed to the regression of the corpora lutea of pregnancy. The effects of androstenedione on pregnancy were dose dependent and could be prevented by concomitant administration of cortisol acetate. Adrenal-ectomy on day 1 of pregnancy did not alter the effects of androstenedione on pregnancy, and only the effects of the lower doses of androstenedione could be prevented by cortisol in adrenalectomized animals. Progesterone was able to protect intact hamsters against all the effects of androstenedione except the decrease in ovarian weight. It is suggested that sufficient androstenedione is metabolized in vivo to estrogen to produce the observed effects.