Studies on the mechanism of ergocornine interference with decidualization and nidation III urinary steroids after administration of ergocornine to women

When a single tablet of 2 mg of the ergot-alkaloid, ergocornine, is administered to women who are in the post-ovulatory phase of their menstrual cycle, there is a sharp drop in the level of urinary pregnanediol and oestrogens and a rise in ketosteroids and hydroxycorticosteroids. These results, indicating a depression of progesterone in women after ingestion of a single dose of ergocornine, are consistent with observations on the rat.