5a-Dihydroprogesterone

5a-Dihydroprogesterone (5a-DHP) is a progesterone receptor agonist and metabolite of progesterone (Item No. 15876).{59179} It is formed from progesterone by 5a-reductase.{59180} It induces gene expression mediated by the progesterone receptor (PR) in reporter assays using HepG2 cells expressing equine PR or human PR (EC50s = 14 and 23.1 nM, respectively).{59179} 5a-DHP (0.7 mg/kg) maintains equine pregnancy in the absence of luteal progesterone. It increases proliferation of C4HD murine mammary cells when used at a concentration of 1 µM and induces tumor formation in a C4HD mouse model of tumorigenesis in a dose-dependent manner.{59181} 5a-DHP levels increase locally following spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury in rats and ischemic brain injury in mice.{59180}