[Changes in the progesterone serum concentration of sexually immature rat pups treated with estradiol and reserpine].

The authors carried out studies on sexually immature rats of Wistar strain. After exact determination of the day of delivery rats were divided into 4 groups: I--injected with 0.9% of sodium chloride on 35th, 36th and 37th day; II--injected with the reserpine only on the same days; III--injected with estradiol on the same days; IV--injected with estradiol on the same days. The animals were killed on the 38th day after delivery. The obtained results revealed that progesterone concentration in sera of sexually immature rats was not increased after treatment with estradiol. This showed that similar effect, established in sexually mature rats, was observed in sexually immature rats as well. Serum progesterone concentration of sexually immature rats was elevated after treatment with estradiol and reserpine. This is a new original fact for participation of adrenergic system in formation of steroid sexual hormone--progesterone in the ovary.