THE METABOLISM OF [4-14C]CHOLESTEROL IN THE PRE-VIABLE HUMAN FOETUS

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Abstract
SUMMARY: After perfusion of pre-viable human foetuses with [4-14C]cholesterol for up to 2 hr., radioactivity was widely distributed in the foetal tissues. Most of the radioactivity was recovered as unchanged cholesterol but traces of pregnenolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone were isolated from the liver and adrenals. No steroid conjugates were isolated although small amounts of cholesterol sulphate may have been formed and solvolysed during extraction. Judging from these results the human foetus at mid-term is unlikely to be able to synthesize progesterone from cholesterol and is dependent on a placental supply of progesterone.

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