OESTRIOL METABOLISM IN THE PREVIABLE HUMAN FOETUS)

Abstract

Four previable fetuses (17th to 21st week of gestation) were perfused with 2 to 3 microcurie amounts of oestriol-16-"C. Approximately 90% of the radioactivity present in the different organs of the perfused fetuses was in a conjugated form. More than 90% of the conjugated material was identified as oestriol-3-sulphate. Evidence was obtained indicating the presence of oestriol-16(17?)-gluco-siduronate and of a sulpho-glucosiduronate-like double conjugate in extracts of the liver, alimentary tract and perfused blood. A highly polar metabolite of oestriol was also detected, but was not identified. More than 70% of the radioactivity present in the blood perfused through the fetuses was in a conjugated form 77% of which was oestriol-3-sulphate.