THE SITE OF PRODUCTION OF OESTROGENIC HORMONES IN HUMAN PREGNANCY. III.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The hormone excretion was determined in 17 cases of pregnancy with anencephalic foetus. In 16 the excretion of oestriol was about 1/10 of the normal pregnancy level and in the 11 cases in which the oestroneoestradiol excretion was estimated, this amounted to 1/4 of the normal pregnancy level. One of the cases presented a normal excretion of oestriol and in this case, the foetal adrenals were of normal size with a normal foetal zone. In one of the cases dehydroepiandrosterone was injected intraamniotically and this resulted in an increase in the excretion of oestrogens, predominantly in the oestrone-oestradiol fraction. The role played by the foetal adrenals in the production of oestrogens during human pregnancy is emphasized and it is suggested that they also might participate in the metabolism of oestrogens.