ANTI-OVULATORY ACTIVITY OF STEROIDS ADMINISTERED BY GAVAGE IN THE ADULT OESTRUS RABBIT

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thirty-seven steroids have been studied as orally effective inhibitors of ovulation in the mated oestrus rabbit. Norethisterone served as the reference standard and a dose response curve was established between the 0.31 and 1.25 mg dose levels. Nine highly active anti-ovulatory compounds are described listed in a decreasing order of potency with norethisterone having the arbitrary value of one: 6-chloro-Δ6-dehydro-17α-acetoxyprogesterone (35), 6α-methyl-Δ1-dehydro-17α-acetoxyprogesterone (≥ 10), 6-fluoro-Δ6-dehydro-17α-acetoxyprogesterone(9), 6-methyl-Δ6-dehydro-17α-acetoxyprogesterone (5), Δ6-dehydro-17α-acetoxyprogesterone (≥ 3), 6α-methyl-17α-acetoxyprogesterone (2.6), 6-chloro-Δ1,6-bisdehydro-17α-acetoxyprogesterone (≥ 2), 2-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-17β-hydroxyandrostan-3-one (≥ 2), and 6α-fluoro-16α-methyl-17α-acetoxyprogesterone (≥ 1.25). The anti-ovulatory activity of a compound was not related necessarily to the progestational activity of a compound nor to the anti-gonadotrophic activity as measured in parabiotic rats. 6-Chloro-Δ60dehydro-17-acetoxyprogesterone was as effective by gavage as previously shown by subcutaneous injection. 2-Hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-17β-hydroxyandrostan-3-one was at least 2.5 times more active by gavage than by injection. While 17α-acetoxyprogesterone was a very weak anti-ovulatory steroid, modifications of the structure by addition of methyl or halogen at the 6α position with or without unsaturation greatly increased the activity. 6-Chloro-Δ6-dehydro-27α-acetoxyprogesterone was the most active compound in this series showing a relative potency of 3500 times that of the parent compound 17α-acetoxyprogesterone.