In vitro metabolism of progesterone by canine hair follicle cells

Dermal papilla cells (DPC) and dermal fibroblasts (DFB) derived from hair follicles from two different body sites (head, flank) of four male, castrated beagle dogs were incubated for 24 h with radioactive progesterone (P4). Thin-layer chromatography was used for separation and autoradiography for identification of the radioactive metabolites. In DFB the main metabolites were cortisol and 4-pregnene-11 beta-ol-3,20-dione, whereas in DPC they were 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and cortisol. The highest percentage of metabolism of P4 was found in DFB of the head. Smaller amounts of other metabolites were found in both cell types of both locations.