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Inhibition of testosterone metabolism and lipogenesis in animal sebaceous glands by progesterone

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Summary

The effect of progesterone on 14C-testosterone metabolism and on 14C-lipid synthesis was studied in two animal sebaceous gland models, hamster flank organ and rat ear skin. Unilateral topical application of progesterone to the female hamster flank organ topically treated with testosterone propionate resulted in localized inhibition of both in vitro 14C-lipogenesis and in vitro conversion of 14C-testosterone to 5α-reduced radio-metabolites. Topical progesterone did not inhibit in vitro 14C-lipogenesis in the male hamster flank organ. Progesterone added in vitro inhibited 14C-lipogenesis and 14C-testosterone metabolism in male rat ear sebaceous glands. These results lend support to the hypothesis that inhibition of sebaceous gland lipogenesis by progesterone is a consequence of its inhibitory effect on testosterone metabolism. Such a rationale provides a valid explanation for the clinical findings with progesterone reported by other investigators.

Zusammenfassung

Der Effekt von Progesteron auf den 14C-Testosteronstoff-wechsel und auf die 14C-Lipidsynthese wurde an zwei Talgdrüsenmodellen der Hamsterflanke und des Rattenohres untersucht. Die einseitige lokale Applikation von Progesteron auf die weibliche Hamsterflanke, die mit Testosteronpropionat vorbehandelt war, brachte eine lokal begrenzte Hemmung sowohl der in vitro 14C-Lipogenese als auch der in vitro Konversion von 14C-Testosteron zu 5α-reduzierten Metaboliten. Lokal aufgebrachtes Progesteron hemmte nicht die in vitro 14C-Lipogenese beim männlichen Hamsterflankenorgan. In vitro zugesetztes Progesteron hemmte die 14C-Lipogenese und den 14C-Testosteron-stoffwechsel bei der Talgdrüse des männlichen Rattenohres. Diese Resultate unterstützten die Hypothese, daß die Hemmung der Lipogenese der Talgdrüse durch Progesteron eine Folge seines hemmenden Effekts auf den Testosteron-stoffwechsel ist. Diese Vorstellung gibt eine wohl gültige Erklärung für die klinischen Ergebnisse, die mit Progesteron durch andere Untersucher erstellt wurden.

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  1. Centre de Recherches Clin Midy, Rue du Prof. Blayac, F-3400, Montpellier, France

    J. Girard, A. Barbier & C. Lafille

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  1. J. Girard
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  2. A. Barbier
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  3. C. Lafille
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Girard, J., Barbier, A. & Lafille, C. Inhibition of testosterone metabolism and lipogenesis in animal sebaceous glands by progesterone. Arch Dermatol Res 269, 281–290 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406422

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406422

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