STUDIES IN STEROID METABOLISM. IX. THE EXCRETION OF PREGNANE-3α, 17α, 20α-TRIOL DURING PREGNANCY*

Abstract

Evidence is presented that certain enzyme preparations are unable to hydrolyze pregnane-3[alpha], 17[alpha],20[alpha]-triol, although they readily cleave pregnane-3[alpha], 20[alpha],diol. Comparison of enzymatic hydrolysis with mineral acid hydrolysis showed that the latter caused conversion of pregnanetriol to a substance with chromatographic properties similar to those of pregnanediol, resulting in interference with the assay of pregnanediol. The excretion of pregnanetriol during pregnancy (7 cases) showed two major peaks[long dash]in the first and third trimesters. Between these peaks there was complete disappearance of pregnanetriol from the urine at about the twelfth week. This suggests that the site of production of pregnanetriol precursors had shifted from the ovary and possibly the adrenal cortex to the placenta.