PERIPHERAL PLASMA LEVELS OF 17α-HYDROXYPROGESTERONE, PROGESTERONE AND OESTRADIOL DURING NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLES IN WOMEN

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Abstract
Liquid-gel chromatography on hydroxyalkoxypropyl Sephadex has been used to separate 17α-hydroxyprogesterone* and progesterone from interfering steroids prior to assay by competitive protein binding. During the luteal phase 0.5 ml of plasma was enough for determinations of both steroids. Fifteen samples could be assayed in less than 48 h. Oestradiol in plasma was assayed by radioimmunoassay. Daily blood samples were collected during 10 normal menstrual cycles in young, healthy women. The average cycle length was 29.7±2.0 (sd) days. 17α-hydroxyprogesterone displayed a midcyclic peak averaging 1.86±0.70 (sd) ng per ml coinciding with a midcyclic peak of oestradiol averaging 16.50± 5.95 (sd) ng per 100 ml of plasma. The highest luteal phase level of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was 1.94 ±0.72 (sd) ng per ml. The corresponding levels for oestradiol were 9.1 ±3.8 (sd) ng per 100 ml. Progesterone formed a luteal plateau averaging 12.3±2.3 (sd) days. The highest luteal level of progesterone was 14.6±2.1 (sd) ng per ml. The peripheral plasma pattern of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone seems to mimic that of oestradiol during the human menstrual cycle.

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