Effects of acetoxyprogesterone upon glycosaminoglycans in the uterus and salivary glands of rats.

The isolation and characterization of glycosaminoglycans was performed in uterus and submaxillary glands of castrated female rats receiving daily doses of 20 or 200 mug of acetoxyprogesterone and 100 or 1000 mug of progesterone. Chromatographic separation of glycosaminoglycans was performed on cellulose microcolumns. The uronic acid concentration in the uterus was decreased by acetoxyprogesterone, in every chromatographic fraction, but not by progesterone. The uronic acid concentration in the submaxillary glands was decreased by acetoxyprogesterone in fractions 1 (glycoporteins) and 2 (hyaluronic acid) and by progesterone in fractions 1 (glycoproteins), 2 (hyaluronic acid) and 7 (heparin);