On the interaction of progestins with metals in ethanolic solution

Abstract

The author and co-worker (ITABASHI and ISHIDA, 1957) found the highest concentration of copper in the swine ovary during estrus.The author (ITABASHI, 1959(ITABASHI, , 1960 also found that estrogen and androgen were able to form a complex with metals including copper, judging from a significant shift of their wave length of maximum absorption in ethanolic solution after addition of the metals.In the present experiment, the reaction of progestin and related compounds with metals was studied. Materials and MethodsMetals tested were Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe (Fe++ and Fe+++) in the form of their sulphates, except Fe+++ which was used in the form of iron alum. Ultraviolet absorption spectra were measured by HITACHI Model ESP-2 A spectrophotometer, equipped with quartz cuvettes, 1cm thickness.In order to make the effect of metals on the spectra of the steroids, the absorption spectra of ethanol, ethanol with metal, ethanolic solution of the steroids and of the steroid solution with metal were determined.Given volume of ethanol was placed in the Cuvett I and II, and the same volume of an ethanolic solution of the steroids was put in the Cuvett III. The absorption spectra of the Cuvett II and III were determined (Sp II & Sp III, respectively) at the range between 215 and and III, and the absorption of these cuvetts (Sp IIm & Sp IIIm, respectively) were determined at the same range described previously.Difference in the absorption spectrum obtained between Sp IIIm-Sp III and Sp IIm-Sp II was used for a criterion of the formation of the steroids and the metal complexes.