BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF 17-α-HYDR0XYPROGESTERONE IN THE MOUSE, RABBIT AND HUMAN BEING*

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Abstract
INTRODUCTION IT WAS reported in a previous publication (1) that 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone is 60 times more potent than progesterone as measured by the Hooker-Forbes bioassay in the mouse. In the rabbit, however, Junkmann found that the free compound was inactive (2). As there appeared to be a species difference, and as the addition of the hydroxyl group to the 17 position of other steroids of low potency increases their activity, it was of interest to extend this study to include the rabbit and the human being. The progestational reaction in the rabbit has been accepted as the biological criterion for this class of compounds since progesterone was first isolated, and use in human therapy is one of the most practical goals in the study of progestational compounds. Recently, 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone and its caproate ester have gained attention by clinical use. Junkmann (2) found that the caproate ester of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone, but not the free compound, had prolonged action in the rabbit. Davis and Wied (3) tested only the esterified steroid in the human being and reported a more prolonged action than that obtained with progesterone.