title: Effect of estrogen on the metabolism of cortisol and cortisone in the baboon fetus at midgestation.
abstract: To determine whether the metabolism of cortisol (F) and cortisone (E) in the baboon fetus is regulated by estrogen, fetal interconversion of F/E was measured at midgestation after an experimental increase in placental estradiol (E2) production. Six baboons (Papio anubis) received increasing numbers of androstenedione implants (50 mg) inserted s.c. at 8-day intervals between Days 70 and 100 of gestation (term = Day 184) to elevate the production of estrogen; controls (N = 8) received no treatment. On Day 100 of gestation, each animal was anesthetized with ketamine:halothane/nitrous oxide, the fetus was exteriorized and [3H] F/[14C] E was infused via a fetal femoral vein for 70 min. Blood samples were then obtained from the contralateral fetal femoral vein, the umbilical vein/artery, and a maternal saphenous vein. After purification of F and E, the metabolic clearance rate (MCR), peripheral interconversion, and placental extraction of F and E were calculated. Maternal serum E2 concentrations (ng/ml; mean +/- SE) between Days 80 and 100 of gestation were greater (p less than 0.01) in androstenedione-treated baboons (2.2 +/- 0.2) than in untreated controls (1.2 +/- 0.1). Although the MCR of F was similar in control (5.2 +/- 0.3 1/day) and treated (7.7 +/- 1.0 1/day) animals, the MCR of E (13.5 +/- 2.0 1/day) was increased (25.8 +/- 2.5 1/day; p less than 0.05) by androstenedione treatment. Placental extraction of F (59 +/- 9%) was lower (p less than 0.01) than that of E (82 +/- 5%) in untreated baboons and was not affected by androstenedione treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk 23501.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pepe
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001835:Body Weight; D003348:Cortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004343:Drug Implants; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010215:Papio / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D004967:Estrogens; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D003348:Cortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone