Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Volume number: 193

ISSN: 0960-0760

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105412

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Intact steroid hormone biosynthesis is essential for growth and development of the human fetus and embryo. In the present study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to characterize the steroidal milieu in amniotic fluid (n = 65; male: female = 35: 30) of mid-gestation (median: 18.8th week, range: 16.0th - 24.6th week) by a comprehensive targeted steroid hormone metabolomics approach. The levels of 52 steroids including pregnenolone and 17 - OH-pregnenolone metabolites, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its metabolites, progesterone and 17 - OH-progesterone metabolites, sex hormones as well as corticosterone and cortisol metabolites were measured. The dominating steroids were the group of pregnenolone and 17 - OH-pregnenolone metabolites (mean +/- SD: 138.0 +/- 59.3 ng/mL), followed by the group of progesterone and 17-OH-progesterone metabolites (107.3 +/- 44.3 ng/mL), and thereafter DHEA and its metabolites (97.1 +/- 56.5 ng/mL). With respect to sex steroids, only testosterone showed a significantly higher value in male fetuses (p < 0.0001). Of all estrogen metabolites, estriol showed by far the highest concentrations (33.2 +/- 26.1 ng/mL). Interestingly, cortisol metabolites were clearly present (59.6 +/- 13.6 ng/mL) though fetal de novo synthesis of cortisol is assumed to start from gestational 28th week onwards. Our comprehensive characterization of the steroidal milieu in amniotic fluid of mid-gestation shows presence of all relevant classes of steroid hormones and provides reference data. We conclude that the steroidal milieu in amniotic fluid mirrors the steroidome of the fetoplacental unit.

Harvard Citation style: Wang, R., Hartmann, M., Tiosano, D. and Wudy, S. (2019) Characterizing the steroidal milieu in amniotic fluid of mid-gestation: A GC-MS study, The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 193, Article 105412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105412

APA Citation style: Wang, R., Hartmann, M., Tiosano, D., & Wudy, S. (2019). Characterizing the steroidal milieu in amniotic fluid of mid-gestation: A GC-MS study. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 193, Article 105412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105412