HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by LUUKKAINEN, T. Articles by VIHKO, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by LUUKKAINEN, T. Articles by VIHKO, R.

Steroid disulphate fractions were obtained by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 from samples of amniotic fluid from three pregnancies complicated by anencephaly. Several of the steroids with a 3β-hydroxy-5-ene structure found in normal amniotic fluid could not be detected. 5-Androstene-3β,17-diol, the main steroid disulphate in normal amniotic fluid was present in concentrations of <5% of the values at normal term. The disulphates of neutral steroids found in highest concentrations in the amniotic fluid of anencephalic pregnancies were those of isomeric pregnanediols; 5-pregnane-3,20-diol, 5-pregnane-3β,20-diol and 5β-pregnane-3,20-diol. The quantities of these metabolites of progesterone in the amniotic fluid of anencephalic pregnancies were similar to those in normal pregnancies. A saturated 18-hydroxylated C₁₉ steroid, most probably 3,18-dihydroxy-5-androstan-17-one, was identified by gas—liquid chromatography and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry. Although this compound has been previously identified in human bile and in normal pregnancy urine, this appears to be the first identification of a saturated C₁₉ steroid in amniotic fluid.