Biological effects of progesterone on cells and tissues in reproductive processes

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.121

Baranouskaya A.I., Voronetsky A.N.
Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus

Progesterone is involved in tissue transformation and regulation of the functions of the reproductive system organs. Progesterone exerts its physiological effect on the target cell provided that events are coordinated at the molecular level.
The aim of this review is to analyze the current literature on the role of receptors in mediating the biological effects of progesterone in reproductive processes. The review draws on the results of studies published over the last five years from the PubMed/MEDLINE and eLibrary.ru databases.
This review describes the types and isoforms of progesterone receptors, including nuclear receptors (nPR), membrane receptors (mPR) and membrane-associated progesterone receptors (MAPR), as well as their signaling pathways and biological effects. Progesterone receptors may function synergistically, or their action may switch depending on the incoming signals. Progesterone-dependent cellular transformation occurs through a series of events, ranging from the expression of the gene encoding the progesterone receptor (PRG) to the activation of target genes, resulting in the synthesis of specific proteins. Both isoforms of the nuclear receptor, nPR-A and nPR-B, either together or individually, activate or inhibit the target gene, transcription and protein synthesis in a codirectional or opposite manner. The non-genomic rapid effect of progesterone is mediated by membrane receptors. Pathological expression of progesterone receptors disrupts the endometrium transition to a receptive state during the implantation window and impairs decidual transformation, leading to infertility, failed embryo transfer in assisted reproduction, and recurrent miscarriage. Disruption of the progesterone-dependent signaling pathway leads to the activation of the estrogen receptor-α, which inhibits the differentiation of the functional layer of the endometrium. The effects of progesterone and the state of its receptors determines changes in the clinical course of endocrine and immune disorders, inflammatory diseases and tumor growth during gestation.
Conclusion. Recent advances in research methods at the molecular level provide new insights into the coordination of the individual steps involved in the biological effects of progesterone. The functioning of the multi-level reproductive system, and the synchronization or sequence of events involving progesterone, is determined both by the quantitative levels of the hormone and its receptors, and by qualitative changes in the target gene, the expression of transcription factors, and the transformation of cells and tissues, leading to changes in their function.

Authors’ contributions. Baranouskaya A.I., Voronetsky A.N. – developing the concept and design of the study, data collecting and analysis, editing the text; Baranouskaya A.I. – writing the text.
Conflicts of interest. Authors declare lack of the possible conflicts of interests.
Funding. The work was carried out without financial support.
Generative Artificial Intelligence. No generative artificial intelligence technologies were used in the preparation of this article.
For citation: Baranouskaya A.I., Voronetsky A.N. Biological effects of progesterone
on cells and tissues in reproductive processes.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (10): 28-34 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.121

progesterone

receptor

endometrium

implantation

decidualization

pregnancy

Full text (in Russian)

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Received 16.04.2026

Accepted 15.09.2026

Alena I. Baranouskaya, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with a course for advanced training and retraining,
Belarusian State Medical University, 220083, Dzerzhinsky Ave., 83, Minsk, Belarus, elena_baranovska@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2116-4675
Aliaksandr N. Voronetsky, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Pediatric Surgery with a course for advanced training and retraining, Belarusian State Medical University, 220083, Dzerzhinsky Ave., 83, Minsk, Belarus, anvoron@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7091-376X
Corresponding author: Alena I. Baranouskaya, elena_baranovska@mail.ru

Biological effects of progesterone on cells and tissues in reproductive processes

Baranouskaya A.I., Voronetsky A.N.

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