Effect of Perphenazine Treatment of Rats on Serum Ovarian and Adrenal Steroids

A comparison of the concentration of steroids in peripheral serum was made between normal rats in the third day of diestrus and rats injected subcutaneously for 3 days with 5 mg/kg body wt/day perphenazine. Progesterone levels were most markedly altered. When perphenazine treatment was begun on the afternoon following ovulation, the average progesterone level was increased 17-fold over that of untreated control rats; when treatment was begun on the afternoon preceding ovulation, the concentration of progesterone was increased only ten-fold. 20α-Hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one was only slightly decreased by the treatment. Irrespective of the day treatment was initiated, corticosterone was increased (threefold) and estradiol-17β was decreased (sixfold) by perphenazine administration. The results are discussed in relation to the known effects of perphenazine administration on prolactin secretion.