Abstract

PIP:

6 patients, ages 32-55 years, were selected to establish radioactive progesterone distribution in the genital tract, and deposition in skin and fat tissue. 1/2 of the patients were in the menstrual proliferative phase, and the rest were in the secretory phase. 250 uci of progesterone-7-h cubed was given intravenously to all patients, and total hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy were performed 8 hours later. A piece of skin was taken as well as some fat tissue from the anterior abdominal wall. The tissues studied were skin, fat tissue, ovary, tube, and uterus. The uterus was sectioned into 3 parts (superior, median, inferior) and the cervix was sectioned into 2 (endocervix and ectocervix). In all the patients, urine was collected during 3 consecutive days and at the time of operation; 10 ml was taken then and at the 5th postoperative day. The largest concentration of radioactive material was found in the proliferative phase patients (in fat tissue); in the secretory phase it was concentrated in the skin, uterus, and myomas. Excretion of radioactive material was 32.5% in the urine, blood radioactivity at the time of operation was 2.62%, and 0.33% of the administered total dose at the 5th postoperative day. In a previous similar study with chlormadinone acetate, urinary excretion was 17.5% and the largest radioactive material concentration occurred in fat tissue, regardless of the day of the cycle. These results may show that natural and synthetic hormones have different action mechanisms at their genital effectors, and different fat tissue deposition. (author's)