Progesterone
By Amelia Sisson
What is it?
· Progesterone is a hormone that signals the body to prepare the uterus with a lining of tissue in preparation for a fertilized egg
· If the egg does not get fertilized the level of the hormone will drop, this signals the body to shed the lining and menstruation to occur.
· In other words it helps prepare your body for conception and pregnancy and regulates the monthly menstrual cycle.
How does it work?
· The ovaries release progesterone around 2 weeks after a woman begins her menstrual cycle.
· Its function is to trigger the release of proteins that are essential for the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, to handle pregnancy.
· The proteins that are released make it possible for the endometrium (lining go the uterus) to hold onto a fertilized egg if necessary.
Where is it produced/stored?
The Ovaries
The Adrenal Glands
The adrenal gland “houses” the steroid DHEA (dehydioepiandrosterone). DHEA plays several vital roles in health, including the metabolism of cholesterol to make the sex hormones progesterone, estrogen and testosterone
The Placenta
Target cells and what is the reaction
- Progesterone has many target cells but an example could be the cells in the uterus.
- The hormone can diffuse freely through the plasma membrane of target cells
- From there the hormone will bind with the progesterone receptor.
- The receptor and its hormone move into the nucleus.
- In the nucleus it binds to a progesterone response element
- The progesterone response element is a specific sequence of DNA in the promotors of certain genes that is needed to turn those genes on or off.
- Then the progesterone with its receptor forms a transcription factor.
References
- http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative/progesterone-cream1.htm
- http://www.healthywomen.org/condition/progesterone
- http://www.livestrong.com/article/496026-adrenal-fatigue-low-progesterone/
- http://study.com/academy/lesson/hormones-of-the-placenta-estrogen-progesterone-hcg.html