Abstract
Progesterone partially blocked the effects of desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) on the urinary ratio of Na/K in acute tests with adrenalectomized rats. Changes of the Na/K ratio resulted from the simultaneous reversal of Na retention and K loss. Progesterone alone at large doses caused DCA-like reductions of Na/K. Tests of various dosage combinations with DCA suggest that blocking efficiency of progesterone is limited by its DCA-like property. The compound appears to be a competitive inhibitor of DCA and a unique example of a steroid with blocking and DCA-like effects in rats.