Five papers on Thai custom.

Data Paper: Number 28. Total number of pages: 19 p

Some aspects of estrogen metabolism in human pregnancy

Estradiol-17β-6,7-3H was administered to pregnant women both normal and diabetic. The specific activities of estrogen metabolites (estrone, estriol, 16-epiestriol, 16α-hydroxyestrone and 16-ketoestradiol- 17β) were measured following β-glucuronidase hydrolysis. The specific activity of urinary estriol was one-sixth and one-tenth that of estrone in two normal pregnancies and the specific activity of estrone was slightly greater or almost equal to those of 16-epiestriol, 16α-hydroxyestrone and 16-ketoestradiol-17β. The latter three were equal to each other, in normal pregnancy. In two diabetic pregnancies, the specific activity of estriol was 30% and 50% that of estrone and the specific activity of estrone was not as high as in normal pregnancy. The endogenous levels of seven estrogen metabolites (2-methoxyestrone, estrone, 16α-hydroxyestrone, 16-ketoestradiol-17β, estradiol, 16-epiestriol and estriol) were also investigated, particularly with respect to their modes of conjugation. In both normal and diabetic pregnancy the main form of conjugation with respect to total urinary estrogen was as glucuronide. However, very substantial amounts of 16-ketoestradiol-17β, 16α-hydroxyestrone and, on occasion, estrone were liberated by solvolysis, suggesting sulfate conjugation. In two diabetic pregnancies evidence was obtained for high estrone levels

Contribution of Estriol to Total Urinary Estrogens during Pregnancy

Abstract Estriol accounts for an average of 74% of the principal Kober-positive steroids in the urine of 13 women during uncomplicated pregnancies. This proportion is independent of the stage of pregnancy, from 20 weeks until term. The average ratio of estriol to ring-D α-ketols (mainly 16α-hydroxyestrone and 16-ketoestradiol-17β) is about 5:1 over the same period. In 17 pregnant women with diabetes, urinary estriol averaged 63% of the "total steroids" during a similar period, and the average ratio of estriol to ring-D α-ketols was 3:1. The quantitative importance of these ketolic steroids may introduce a problem in deciding whether to measure estriol or "total estrogens" when evaluating fetal viability in complicated pregnancies.</jats:p