PROGESTERONE METABOLISM IN THE EWE

Abstract

SUMMARY [4-14C]Progesterone was administered intravenously to five ewes with chronic bile-duct fistulae and to one intact animal. The mean percentage of the injected dose, calculated as 'excretable' when extrapolated to infinite time, was 95·5% (range: 81–104%). The time of excretion of half the radioactivity as estimated from excretion curves of the accumulated activity was 2·9 hr. (range: 1·5–7·8 hr.). The mean urinary 'excretable' fraction was 25·5% (range: 8–53% of the injected dose, that of bile was 70·0%. Urine contained relatively more of the polar material (presumable double conjugates of the metabolites) than bile.