Mechanisms Responsible for Progesterone's Protection Against Lordosis-Inhibiting Effects of Restraint II: Role of Progesterone Metabolites

The study investigated whether progesterone metabolites, particularly allopregnanolone, contributed to progesterone's ability to mitigate the lordosis-inhibiting effects of mild restraint in ovariectomized rats. The research involved 40 rats and found that allopregnanolone treatment reduced the effects of restraint on lordosis behavior. The study suggested that allopregnanolone, a metabolite of progesterone, played a role in this protective effect, as it could substitute for progesterone in reducing restraint effects. The findings indicated that the protective effects of progesterone might involve both classical progesterone receptor activation and the action of its metabolites.