1.Progesterone inhibited oxidation of succinate by intact rat liver mitochondria in metabolic state 3. The degree of inhibition did not depend on succinate and ADP concentration. Inhibition was less pronounced in the presence of EDTA. The respiration has been slightly inhibited by progesterone if mitochondria were damaged by sonication.2. Inhibition of succinate (f rotenone) oxidation by progesterone in intact rat liver mitochondria in metabolic state 3 was reversed by 2,4-dinitrophenol, calcium ion, gramicidin + NH,Cl, EDTA, some anions and partially by gramicidin + K+. The degree of reversal by anions was pH-dependent.3. Progesterone inhibited ATP synthesis with succinate (+ rotenone) as substrate. This inhibition has not been observed in the presence of citrate and other anions (in contrast to inhibition caused by oligomycin).
4.Progesterone was without effect on ATPase activity stimulated by 2,4-dinitrophenol.Under nonrespiring conditions progesterone did not induce ATPase activity. 5. The experiments described suggest that inhibition of succinate oxidation by progesterone in the intact rat liver mitochondria is exerted by interference with the uptake of protons into the mitochondrion.Hormonal steroids and related substances have been shown to inhibit electron transfer with both mitochondrial and submitochondrial systems [ 1-41. Steroids are capable of interacting with respiratory chain a t two different sites, the more sensitive located in the NADH-flavoprotein region and less sensitive located in the cytochrome b and cytochrome c region [l-41. Wade and Jones reported that progesterone uncouples oxidative phosphorylation by activating the mitochondrial ATPase activity [5]. Vallejos and Stoppani [2] claimed that progesterone affects the energy conserving mechanism a t the second phosphorylation site. Chance et al. [6,7] suggested that steroids affect energy transfer system preferentially a t the first phosphorylation site.Trivial Names. Androstendione, androst-4-ene-3,17-dione; androsterone, androstane-3a-ol-17-one; corticosterone, pregn-4-ene-11/?,21-diol-3,2O-dione; cortisone, pregn-4-ene-17a,21-diol-3,1l,2O-trione ; deoxycorticosterone, pregn-4-ene-21-01-3,20-dione; 17a-hydroxyprogesterone, 17a-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,2O-dione ; oestradiol, oestra-1,3,5-triene-3,178 -diol ; oestra -1,3,5 -triene -3,16a,17/? -triol;pregnanolone, pregnane-3a-ol-20-one; pregnanediol, 58-pregnane-3a,20a-diol; pregnenolone, 3/3-hydroxypregn-5-ene-20-one; progesterone, pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione; testosterone, 17t9-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3-one. Enzymes. Hexokinase or ATP : D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.1); ATPase or ATP phosphohydrolase (EC 3.6.1.3). oestriol, These contradictory observations inspired the present study, the aim of which is to obtain more information on the mechanism of progesterone action on mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. I n this paper the effects of classical uncouplers, gramicidin, calcium ion, and some anions on mitochondrial respiration inhibited by progesterone have been studie...