Changes induced by progesterone treatment in the sulphatides of the frog oviduct

Sulphatides have been studied by histochemical and biochemical procedures in the oviduct of the frog in different experimental conditions. In ovariectomized or hypophysectomized animals, compared to sham-operated, an increase in sulphatides was observed. The progesterone treatment did not significantly modify this lipid fraction in ovariectomized frogs, while in hypophysectomized frogs it induced a further increase. Densitographic profiles of the sulphatides, obtained by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and also recorded by Tesak equipment, were similar in ovariectomized or hypophysectomized frogs following hormone treatment because they showed three distinct fractions in both experimental groups of animals. The appearance of a third fraction never previously observed was probably induced by the progesterone treatment. Moreover, under the effects of this hormone, the phospholipid fractions (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine) also showed different densitographic profiles.