Interrelationships of Circulating Maternal Steroid Concentrations in Third Trimester Pregnancies. II. C18and C19Steroids: Estradiol, Estriol, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Δ5-Androstenediol, Δ4-Androstenedione, Testosterone, and Dihydrotestosterone

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Abstract
This report describes aggregate time trend effects of advancing gestational age on circulating maternal concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), dehydroepiandrosterone (D), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (D–S), Δ5-androstenediol (Δ5diol), Δ4-androstenedione (Δ4A), testosterone (T), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a sequential series of 155 blood samples obtained from 19 normal pregnant women ranging from 26–40 weeks gestational age. Only E2, E3) and D–S show aggregate time trend effects. Log (E2) plots as a linear positive sloping curve from 26–40 weeks. Log (E3) plots as a positive sloping curve that is significantly steeper than log (E2) (P < 0.05). Log (D–S) plots into a negative sloping curve which mirrors the pattern for log (E2) but cannot be statistically associated with log (E2) except for the opposite sign of their slopes, which are both significantly different from a zero slope (P < 0.05). Δ4A, T, DHT, Δ5diol, and D show no aggregate time trends; however wide, comoving undulations for Δ4A, T, DHT, and A'Miol between 26–28 and 38–40 weeks are confirmed in time by comparison of log mean plots and in magnitude by regressing the C19 steroids on one another. D shows virtually no association with the other C19 steroids. All C19 steroids, except for T, circulate at nonpregnant concentrations, implying that there is little placental secretion of these steroids into the maternal circulation.