EFFECT OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE AND ANDROST-5-EN-17-ON-3β-YL SULPHATE ADMINISTRATION TO THE MOTHER ON URINARY OESTROGEN EXCRETION IN LATE HUMAN PREGNANCY

Abstract

SUMMARY Infusion into the mother of adrenocorticotrophin during late normal pregnancy was accompanied by rises or falls in the urinary excretion of oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol. A similar variable pattern was found when the subjects infused were receiving regular pharmacological doses of glucocorticosteroid (i.e. when maternal adrenal function was reduced) or were carrying anencephalic foetuses (i.e. when foetal adrenal function was reduced). Similar infusion of a substantial quantity of androst-5-en-17-on-3β-yl sulphate (DHAS) was accompanied by rises in oestrogen excretion by normal subjects. The rises were large compared with basal levels, but small (a few per cent) compared with the amount of DHAS infused. The changes in a pregnancy with anencephaly were within the range of the normal subjects. It is concluded that maternal DHAS plays little part in placental oestrogen synthesis, and that some control of oestrogen synthesis from DHAS occurs by the placenta itself.