IN VITRO OESTROGEN BIOSYNTHESIS IN FOETAL ORGANS OF MIDPREGNANCY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Foetal organs; namely adrenal, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, liver, lung, skin and testis of midpregnancy were incubated individually with radio-active dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and the free and conjugated oestrogens were analyzed. Free oestriol was isolated in the gastrointestinal tract, liver and skin incubates. Oestrone and oestriol glucuronides were found in the gastrointestinal tract and liver incubates respectively. In the gastrointestinal tract incubate oestrone sulphate was found in the highest concentration while sulphates of oestradiol and oestriol were shown in the liver incubate. Conversion rates were small, ranging from 0.009% to 0.121%. These studies suggest that although certain foetal organs are able to aromatize steroids, their contribution to the high levels of oestrogen produced by the foeto-placental unit may be negligible.