Corticosteroid levels in human fetal blood at midgestation and at term.
Cortisol and cortisone were estimated in samples of fetal blood obtained by fetoscopy at 13 to 24 weeks' gestation and in cord blood obtained at elective cesarean section at 38 weeks' gestation. Levels of cortisone exceeded those of cortisol at all gestational ages studied. At midgestation, cortisol levels tended to fall with advancing gestation and had a weak negative correlation with fetal weight. The levels of both steroids were similar in male and female fetuses and increased significantly from midgestation to term.
D003348:Cortisone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
D003348:Cortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone