CONCENTRATIONS OF OESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE IN THE PLASMA OF NON-PREGNANT, PREGNANT AND LACTATING GUINEA-PIGS

Abstract

SUMMARY A competitive protein-binding assay of progesterone and a radioimmunoassay of total unconjugated oestrogens were evaluated and employed in the measurement of these steroids in the plasma of guinea-pigs at different times during the reproductive cycle. Production rates (PR) were calculated from the product of the endogenous steroid concentration and its metabolic clearance rate. During the oestrous cycle, plasma progesterone levels rose from undetectable levels at the time of ovulation to 2·8 ± 0·33 (s.e.m.) ng/ml 5 days later; PR was 0·26 mg/day. During pregnancy, plasma progesterone concentrations in post-partum mated guinea-pigs rose from 15 ng/ml at day 15 post coitum (p.c.) (PR, 0·65 mg/day) to a peak value of 329 ± 14 ng/ml by days 30 to 45. The concentration fell 51–55 days p.c. (160 ± 14·7 ng/ml), but rose before parturition to 258 ± 22 ng/ml. After day 20 p.c., PR was 1·24 ± 0·3 mg/day. After parturition, plasma progesterone levels fell rapidly and during lactation were about 10 ng/ml (PR, 0·4 mg/day). Total unconjugated oestrogens in arterial plasma were not detected in early pregnancy, but rose from values of 12·8 ± 1·9 pg/ml (days 31–35) to 31·0 ± 5·2 pg/ml (days 56–60). There was a slight fall before, and a rapid one after parturition. The ratio of progesterone to oestrogen in plasma fell during pregnancy and reached its lowest values between days 55 and 60.