TY - JOUR
T1 - Ontogeny of human fetal plasma progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, and deoxycorticosterone sulfate
AU - Parker, C. R.
AU - Carr, B. R.
AU - Ragland, S. R.
AU - Morrison, J. C.
AU - Herbert, W. N P
AU - MacDonald, P. C.
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Refmductive Biology Sciences and the Departmats of Obstettics and Gynecology, Bio-chemistr)r, and Physiotogy, Universio of Texas Health Science Cen-ter at Dallas, the.Depaytment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uni-versity of M&.&pi School of Medicine, and the Defiartment of Obste& and *ecology, &iversity of North Carol& School if Medicine. Supported part by National Institutes of Health Grants Nos. HD14513, 5-POl-HDI3912, and 5-P50-HDlI149. Received for publication January 13, 1983. Revised May 2, 1983. Accepted July 1 I, 1983. Reprint requests: Dr. C. Richard Parker, Jr., De@artwwnt of Obstet-rics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, 75235.
PY - 1983/12/15
Y1 - 1983/12/15
N2 - The concentrations of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone (DOC), and deoxycorticosterone sulfate (DOC-SO4) were determined in mixed umbilical cord plasma of abortuses and newborn infants delivered between 18 and 42 weeks' gestation. A wide range of values among individual samples was found for progesterone (224 to 2,152 ng/ml), DOC (1.6 to 10.4 ng/ml), and DOC-SO4 (17 to 154 ng/ml). Levels of progesterone and DOC in mixed umbilical cord plasma were not correlated; those of DOC and DOC-SO4 were positively correlated significantly (r = 0.3945, P < 0.001). Whereas the mean plasma levels of DOC were similar throughout gestation, significant variation, as a function of gestational age, was found for progesterone and DOC-SO4, with levels of these steroids generally being higher near term than earlier in gestation. The administration of glucocorticosteroids to the mother resulted in a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in plasma concentrations of DOC and DOC-SO4 in the newborn infant; levels of progesterone in umbilical cord plasma were not affected by maternal glucocorticosteroid treatment. These results suggest that the fetal adrenal glands play a direct, or possibly an indirect, role in the production of the DOC and DOC-SO4 that is present in the fetal compartment. In addition, since fetal plasma levels of progesterone are quite high throughout gestation, the potential exists for circulating progesterone to serve as a precursor for adrenal and extra-adrenal production of DOC and DOC-SO4.
AB - The concentrations of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone (DOC), and deoxycorticosterone sulfate (DOC-SO4) were determined in mixed umbilical cord plasma of abortuses and newborn infants delivered between 18 and 42 weeks' gestation. A wide range of values among individual samples was found for progesterone (224 to 2,152 ng/ml), DOC (1.6 to 10.4 ng/ml), and DOC-SO4 (17 to 154 ng/ml). Levels of progesterone and DOC in mixed umbilical cord plasma were not correlated; those of DOC and DOC-SO4 were positively correlated significantly (r = 0.3945, P < 0.001). Whereas the mean plasma levels of DOC were similar throughout gestation, significant variation, as a function of gestational age, was found for progesterone and DOC-SO4, with levels of these steroids generally being higher near term than earlier in gestation. The administration of glucocorticosteroids to the mother resulted in a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in plasma concentrations of DOC and DOC-SO4 in the newborn infant; levels of progesterone in umbilical cord plasma were not affected by maternal glucocorticosteroid treatment. These results suggest that the fetal adrenal glands play a direct, or possibly an indirect, role in the production of the DOC and DOC-SO4 that is present in the fetal compartment. In addition, since fetal plasma levels of progesterone are quite high throughout gestation, the potential exists for circulating progesterone to serve as a precursor for adrenal and extra-adrenal production of DOC and DOC-SO4.
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U2 - 10.1016/0002-9378(83)90253-3
DO - 10.1016/0002-9378(83)90253-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 6650634
AN - SCOPUS:0021069956
SN - 0002-9378
VL - 147
SP - 955
EP - 959
JO - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
JF - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
IS - 8
ER -