STUDIES ON THE ESTIMATION OF URINARY PREGNANETRIOL DURING PREGNANCY AND CHILDHOOD

Abstract

ABSTRACT The excretion of pregnanetriol in the urine of pregnant women was investigated using a modified method based upon the oxidation of pregnanetriol to aetiocholanolone with sodium metaperiodate. The Zimmermann reaction was then employed to estimate the aetiocholanolone produced. The reliability criteria of the present method have been investigated. The increased specificity of the method enables a more accurate estimate to be made of urinary pregnanetriol in pregnancy. An increase in the urinary levels of the compound occurred after the 30th week of pregnancy reaching a maximum at about the 36th to 37th week. The present method has also been applied to the urine of a small number of children as well as adult men and women. Studies on 2 adrenalectomized men and on a pregnant adrenalectomized woman suggest that the testes and the foeto-placental unit may be sources of the precursors of urinary pregnanetriol.