Progesterone is a gonadal steroid hormone whose physiological effects extend well beyond the strict confines of reproductive function. In fact, progesterone can have important effects on a variety of tissues, including the bone, the heart and the brain. Mechanistically, progesterone has been thought to exert its effects through the progesterone receptor (PR), a member of the nuclear steroid hor...

Background: Matrix MetalloProteinases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix components to provide normal remodeling and contribute to pathological tissue destruction and cell migration in endometriosis. It is accepted that MMPs are resistant to suppression by progesterone in endometriotic tissues. The physiological effects of progesterone are mediated by its two progesterone receptor (PR) isoform...

The aim of this work was to investigate the role of progesterone during Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis, and the immunological mechanisms involved in its effects, by relating progesterone treatment to whole parasite counts, to host humoral and cellular immune response, to the presence or absence of nuclear receptors to sex steroids in splenocytes, and to serum sex steroid levels in infected mic...

Previously, progesterone was found to regulate the initiation and biosynthetic rate of myelin synthesis in Schwann cell/neuronal cocultures. The mRNA for cytochrome P450scc (converts cholesterol to pregnenolone), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD, converts pregnenolone to progesterone), and the progesterone receptor were found to be markedly induced during active myelin synthesis. H...

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for progesterone measurement in serum or plasma samples using penicillinase as label enzyme is reported. A C3 and C11 derivatives of progesterone were prepared and conjugated to bovin serum albumin (BSA). Polyclonal antibody against these two immunogens were prepared in New Zealand white rabbits. Purified Ig fractions of antibodies were immobilized o...

Background: Threatened preterm labor (TPL) is the leading cause of hospitalization during pregnancy. Tocolytic agents are the primary therapeutic options for TPL. The aim of this study is to compare intramuscular progesterone with oral nifedipine as a tocolytic agent. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out in a teaching hospital (Shahid Akbarabadi) in Tehran, Iran, from De...

Background: Aqueous extract of winter cherry (Physalis alkekengi L; family of Solanaceae) fruits (WCF) has long been recommended for fertility control by herbalists in Iran. The effect of this extract on lowering serum progesterone levels has been reported previously. Objective: To study the effects of WCF extract on the activities of ovarian 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) responsible...

The granulosa cell tumor is the most common malignant functioning tumor of the ovary. When functional, granulosa tumor almost always are estrogenic although rare tumors are androgenic. Progesterone producing by these tumors has only been reported twice. We report a case of granulosa cell tumor in a 7 years old girl with precocious puberty who represent the first case of progesterone producing b...