Metabolism of Progesterone in Human Proliferative Endometrium1

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Abstract
Proliferative endometrial tissue was incubated in vitro with progesterone-4-14C. Eight products have been isolated and 4 have been identified by reverse isotope dilution, chromatographic techniques, and crystallization to constant specific activity. The products identified were 5[alpha]- and 5[beta]-pregnan-3,20-dione, [DELTA]4 -pregnen-20[alpha]-ol-3-one and [DELTA]4-pregnen-6[beta]-ol-3,20-dione. Presumptive evidence was obtained for the formation of allopregnan-20[alpha]-ol-3-one, pregnan-20[alpha]-ol-3-one and [DELTA]4-pregnen-20[beta]-ol-3-one. The structure of an unknown dihydroxy compound is still under investigation. As allopregnanedione is a major product of progesterone metabolism in the endometrium, it is concluded that urinary pregnanediol is primarily a product of liver metabolism and does not reflect the metabolism of progesterone at target sites.