Progesterone molecular modifications

It is through molecular modification that progesterone (generally considered to be one of the two basic female hormones) is converted by microorganisms (and perhaps in part by man as well) to testosterone acetate (VII)... 

Thus, through minor changes, beautiful in their simplicity yet dramatic in their effect, nature has excelled in molecular modification and man has learned from it. The living cell has transformed progesterone into a host of different modifications essential to its over-all economy, and through molecular modification, the chemist has done likewise. 

Pregnanedione, a potent depressant of the central nervous system, has been called a steroid anesthetic (94, 95). Given to mice, it produces a deep sleep which continues until the material is dissipated. Molecular modification of this chemical afforded hydroxydione sodium succinate, a clinically useful, short-acting steroid anesthetic with muscle-relaxant properties (66, 76). When large doses of progesterone are given clinically, depression, drowsiness, and even sleep have similarly been induced (73). 

It, therefore, seems clear that the molecular modification of progesterone, altering its solubility, distribution ratio, polarity, protein- binding characteristics, steric requirements, crystalline structure, and rate of metabolism (as well as the nature of the metabolic products themselves), would alter some of the properties of progesterone, eliminate some, and introduce new and unexpected properties, many of which may not be evident even after extensive animal studies. 

Among the many naturally occurring processes leading to molecular modifications of progesterone and its precursor, pregnenolone, is the formation of the 17a-hydroxy derivative. Although 17a-hydroxyprogesterone... 

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