title: Using the oocyte donation model to identify early trophoblast pregnenolone production.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate production of progesterone's precursor, pregnenolone, in the early oocyte donation pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnenolone and progesterone were measured on luteal days 21, 28, 35, 60 and 80. Progesterone was measured via the Immulite system, pregnenolone by liquid chromatography separation with tandem mass spectrometric detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progesterone rose significantly from days 35 today 60. Pregnenolone likewise rose significantly from days 35-60, but at a much higher rate, with an increase of 57% by day 60, 75% to day 80. The increase in pregnenolone was statistically more significant than the increase in progesterone (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report describing that progesterone's precursor, pregnenolone, increases with time in the very early pregnancy. Because no corpus luteum is present in oocyte recipients, the main source of pregnenolone is the early placenta. Measurements of pregnenolone may provide information concerning early trophoblast function and may represent a method of assessing placental competency.
authors.affiliation: NYU Fertility Center, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of OBGYN, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. fredivf@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Licciardi
authors.forename: Orkun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Cheongeun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000379:methods*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D011284:Pregnenolone