Abstract
Summary
The present experiments showed that the oocytes of the frog, Rana pipiens, metabolize progesterone-4-14C in vitro into several metabolites. Of these 5α-reduced products, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, 3α-OH-5α-pregnan-20-one, and 3β-OH-5α-pregnan-20-one have been tentatively identified by thin layer chromatography and reverse isotope recrystallization. It has been demonstrated that these 5α-reduced steroids effectively induce breakdown of the germinal vesicle of isolated oocytes in vitro.
Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, H D-06057 and 71-225. Our thanks are due to Dr. Ben Snyder for helping us in the initial phase of the work. We also appreciate the support and encouragement of Dr. Melvin Taymor.
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