THE EXCRETION OF C-16 OXYGENATED NEUTRAL STEROID SULPHATES AND DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULPHATE IN NORMAL PREGNANCY, AND A COMPARISON WITH THEIR EXCRETION BY ENDOCRINOLOGICALLY NORMAL SUBJECTS OF BOTH SEXES

Abstract

ABSTRACT The respective mean 24 h urinary excretions of sulphoconjugated 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone, 16-oxo-androstenediol, and dehydroepiandrosterone were found to be 1040, 230, and 668 μg/24 h for normal males, and 621, 209, and 304 μg/24 h for normal non-pregnant females. None of the differences in mean steroid excretions between males and non-pregnant females was statistically significant according to the usual criterion for significance (P < 0.05). The mean excretions of sulphoconjugated 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone, 16-oxo-androstenediol and dehydroepiandrosterone between the 10th week of normal pregnancy and term were 1300, 505 and 226 μg/24 h respectively. No significant trend in the excretions of these neutral steroid sulphates between the 10th week of pregnancy and term could be detected. The increased excretion of both C-16 oxygenated steroid sulphates in pregnancy was highly significant (P < 0.001). In contrast, the statistical significance of the difference in excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate between pregnant and non-pregnant females could not be established. There did not appear to be any relationship between the excretion of 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and oestriol in normal pregnancy. The results are considered to be consistent with a limited transplacental passage of neutral steroids from the foetoplacental to maternal circulation.