Biosynthesis of 6β‐ and 6α‐Hydroxyprogesterone in the Human Foetal Liver

Abstract
After incubation of progesterone with 105000 Xg microsomes of human foetal liver two C21O3 steroids were isolated by ascending one‐dimensional thin‐layer chromatography. Gas chromato‐graphy‐mass spectrometry analysis showed that the compounds were identical with 6β‐ and 6α‐hydroxyprogesterone. The significance of this finding in relation to earlier reports of 6‐hy‐droxylated C21 steroids in human pregnancy urine is discussed.