Identification and quantitative determination of steroids in bovine corpus luteum during oestrous cycle and pregnancy

Neutral steroids in bovine corpus luteum were isolated by liquid-gel chromatography on hydrophobic Sephadex, and were analyzed by computerized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The presence of progesterone and 20beta-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one was confirmed. In addition, 3beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one, 5-pregnene-3beta,20beta-diol, 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one and 5alpha-pregnane-3beta,20beta-diol were fully identified, and 3-hydroxy-4-pregnen-20-one, 4 pregnene-3,20-diol, 22-hydroxycholesterol and 20,22-dihydroxycholesterol were partially characterized. Steroid sulphates were not detected. Quantification of the six fully identified steroids was based on peak areas in specific fragment ion current chromatograms constructed by the computer. During the 4th-19th day of the oestrous cycle the steroid concentrations varied as follows: progesterone 6.0-36.7 mug/g wet luteal weight, 20beta-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one 0.8-5.5 mug/g, 3beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one 1.0-7.1mug/g, 5-pregnene-3beta,20beta-diol smaller than 0.2-0.9 mug/g, 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one 1.7-8.6 mug/g, and 5alpha-pregnane-3beta,20beta-diol smaller than 0.2-1.2 mug/g. The concentrations of progesterone and 3beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one seemed to vary in parallel and were low during days 11-17. During this period the concentrations of 5-pregnene-3beta,20beta-diol and 5alpha-pregnane-3beta,20beta-diol were highest as was the relative contribution of all three 20beta-hydroxysteroids to the total amount of steroids. The relative amount of 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one seemed to be highest during days 4-6. The total steroid concentration in corpora lutea taken in early pregnancy (75-105 days) was 18-47 mug/g. In the period 75-90 days, progesterone constituted only 35-42% of the total steroids, 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one as much as 23-40% and the total 20beta-hydroxysteroids 18-30%. The total steroid concentration in corpora lutea taken in midterm and late pregnancy was 21-77 mug/g. In this period progesterone was by far the predominant steroid and constituted about 80-90% of the total steroids in corpora lutea taken between days 150 and 240. Possible correlations between luteal growth, steroid oxidoreductases and steroid concentrations are discussed.