COMPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION OF ESTROGENS AND PREGNANCY SPECIFIC BETA-1 GLYCOPROTEIN

Pregnancy specific β1 glycoprotein (PSβ1, G), unconjugated oestriol, total oestriol and oestradiol were measured in the peripheral venous blood of 25 pregnant women. The results were compared with similar measurements in maternal tissue fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and uterine vein blood; or with retroplacental blood, umbilical cord blood, and amniotic fluid. The highest mean concentration of PSβ1G occurred in maternal venous blood and was 17.37 (SD 7.07) mg/dl. The mean peritoneal value was 21 per cent of the mean peripheral vein value. Two tissue fluid values were 32 per cent and 5 per cent of the corresponding peripheral vein values. No measurable amount of PSβ1G was found in maternal cerebrospinal fluid and cord artery. Unconjugated oestriol was found in highest concentration in retroplacental blood. The concentration fell from here to contiguous compartments. An exchange between these compartments was suggested by significant correlations in their oestriol content. Conjugated forms of oestriol, as represented by the measurement of total oestriol, were present in highest concentration on the fetal side in cord arterial blood, but could be found in all other compartments. Oestradiol appeared in highest concentrations in retroplacental blood. Low values of oestradiol were found in the fetal compartment. Correlations between maternal compartments were few and this was considered evidence of impeded transmission between these compartments. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved