Year: 1974
Type: article
Abstract: The effects of progesterone on the growth of pathogenic and nonpathogenic species of Neisseria were studied in liquid cultures. Only strains of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis were highly sensitive to growth inhibition by progesterone. This inhibitory effect was either bacteriostatic or bactericidal, depending upon the ratio of progesterone concentration to cell mass. The site of progesterone inhibition appeared to be located in the cell membrane; >86% of [4-(14)C]progesterone was recovered in the lipid-containing cell fractions. Membrane preparations from N. gonorrhoeae bound progesterone more efficiently than those from progesterone-insensitive cells. In addition, progesterone significantly inhibited the activity of the membrane-associated enzymes reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase and (cytochrome b) l-lactate dehydrogenase.
Source: Infection and Immunity
Authors: Stephen A. Morse, Thomas J. Fitzgerald
Institution: Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Microbiology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2298033544