Mechanism of action of progesterone on amphibian oocytes. A possible biological role for progesterone metabolism

Abstract

The ability of various steroids to induce maturation of Pleurodeles waltlii oocytes after incubation has been studied. Progesterone is metabolized during the course of maturation. All metabolites isolated are less efficient than progesterone for inducing germinal vesicle breakdown. Progesterone binding to the ‘melanosorne’ fraction has been studied ( K D = 4.5 × 10 −8M at 4°C). 20β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one, the main progesterone metabolite isolated from the oocyte, also binds to the melanosome fraction, but with a lower affinity ( K d = 1.6 × 10 −7 M at 4°C). At high concentration 20β-hydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one induces maturation, but at low concentration it is a competitive inhibitor of progesterone. Progesterone metabolism in Pleurodeles oocytes can be interpreted as an inactivation process, and also as a mechanism for inhibiting progesterone action.