Physiology of the Corpus Luteum

The action oe progesterone on the uterus of the rabbit and its antagonism by œstrone

“…In view of the recent isolation and partial synthesis of progesterone, the active principle of the corpus luteum, it was decided to determine to what extent the known actions of the luteal extracts on the uterus could be attributed to this substance and the first part of this paper records the results obtained. Progestin is effective in producing its actions on the uterus (progestational proliferation of the endometrium and desensitization of the muscle) only when the uterus has been subject to the action of cestrin immediately previously [Allen, 1930;Hisaw & Leonard, 1930;Robson, 1932]. On the other hand, the action of progestin on the uterine endometrium can be prevented by the simultaneous injection of cestrin; but the effect on the uterine muscle is not easily overcome by cestrin [Robson & Illingworth, 1931;Leonard, Hisaw & Fevold, 1932].…”