PROGESTERONE, 20α-DIHYDROPROGESTERONE AND 20β-DIHYDROPROGESTERONE IN MOTHER AND CHILD AT BIRTH

Abstract

ABSTRACT In 14 healthy pregnant women at term progesterone (P) and 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20α-DHP) were determined by radioimmunoassay both in the maternal and foetal compartments. The average concentrations were as follows (ng/ml blood or ng/g wet weight tissue): peripheral maternal blood P 56 ± 26, 20α-DHP 16 ± 8; placental tissue P 2514 ± 1516, 20α-DHP 429 ± 412; placental blood P 365 ± 160, 20α-DHP 35 ± 18; blood of the umbilical vein P 388 ± 121, 20α-DHP 33 ± 15; blood of the umbilical arteries P 162 ± 62, 20α-DHP 28 ± 10. In 5 healthy pregnant women at term progesterone (P), 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20α-DHP) and 20β-dihydroprogesterone (20β-DHP) were also determined by gas-liquid chromatography both in the maternal and foetal compartments. The average concentrations were as follows (ng/ml plasma or ng/g wet weight tissue): peripheral maternal plasma P 129 ± 49, 20α-DHP 15 ± 15, 20β-DHP 1.7 ± 0.9; placental tissue P 5060 ± 1435, 20α-DHP 230 ± 158, 20β-DHP 38 ± 30; placental plasma P 723 ± 245, 20α-DHP 24 ± 13, 20β-DHP 1.0 ± 0.1; plasma of the umbilical vein P 704 ± 227, 20α-DHP 17 ± 3, 20β-DHP 1.2 ± 0.3; plasma of the umbilical arteries P 324 ± 94, 20α-DHP 17 ± 5, 20β-DHP 2.6 ± 2.1 These results show that, contrary to the progesterone concentrations, no significant difference exists in the concentrations of 20α-DHP and 20β-DHP between the blood from the umbilical vein and arteries. Furthermore, no significant difference could be found in the concentrations of P and 20α-DHP between the sexes in either the blood from the umbilical vein or from the umbilical arteries.