Interrelationships of circulating maternal steroid concentrations in third trimester pregnancies. III. Effect of intravenous cortisol infusion on maternal concentrations of estriol, 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, delta 5-pregnenolone, delta5-pregnenolone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol

Abstract

The effect of a large dose (1000 mg) of iv cortisol-hemisuccinate on circulating steroid concentrations in five women, 28--34 weeks, gestational age, is reported. Maternal concentrations of estriol, 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, delta 5-pregnenolone, delta 5-pregnenolone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol were measured by RIA before and at 8 and 12 h after iv cortisol infusions at 0 and 8 h. Data were evaluated by repeated measure analysis of variance. Estriol and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone suppressed initially (P less than 0.05) and suppressed further with retreatment and increased treatment time (P less than 0.05). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and progesterone suppressed initially (P less than 0.05) but did not suppress further with retreatment and increased treatment time (P greater than 0.05). delta 5-Pregnenolone and delta5-pregnenolone sulfate increased initially (P less than 0.05) but did not increase further (P greater than 0.05). Concentrations of 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone were unchanged by cortisol infusion initially (P greater than 0.1) and with retreatment and increased treatment time (P greater than 0.1).