title: Intra-amniotic or intravenous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate: simultaneous changes in steroid levels in amniotic fluid and maternal serum.
abstract: Levels of unconjugated oestradiol-17 beta (E2) and testosterone (T) and total oestriol (E3) were measured hourly to 6 h after intra-amniotic (i.a.) (100--200 mg) or intravenous (i.v.) (100 mg) injection of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) in a series of twenty-six women with mid-trimester abortion. Amniotic fluid E2 and T levels were elevated significantly 1--6 h after the i.a. injection of DHEA-S, while the E3 level in amniotic fluid did not change. The i.a. administration also induced significant rises in serum E2 and T levels between 1 and 6 h and in the serum E3 level between 2--6 h. The i.v. injection of DHEA-S was accompanied by significantly elevated serum levels of E2 and T, while the E3 concentration remained unchanged. It appears that following maternal i.v. administration or an amniotic fluid injection, DHEA-S is rapidly converted to E2 and T, and these accumulate in both the maternal circulation and the amniotic fluid. E3, however, is formed only after i.a. administration of DHEA-S, and is selectively transported to the maternal blood.
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004964:Estriol