Assessment of placental function by estimation of testosterone in plasma after an intravenous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS).
The response of plasma testosterone to an intravenous injection of 50 mg dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) was measured in 22 pregnant women. In 15 women with uncomplicated pregnancies a rapid and steep increase of plasma testosterone was observed, most women having their maximum testosterone value recorded as soon as 5 minutes after the injection. Three women with preeclampsia had delayed maximum values. They delivered infants of low birth-weight or with low Apgar scores. One woman with pre-eclampsia had a normal response and gave birth to a healthy infant of normal birth-weight. Out of 3 women with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) 2 had an abnormal and 1 a normal response. It is concluded that the plasma response of testosterone to an injection of DHAS is a reflection of placental function.
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone