摘要：We have established a method for quantifying serum 16-dehydropregnenolone (3β-hydroxy-5, 16-pregnadien-20-one) sulfate (16-DHP S) by GC-MS. The levels of 16-DHP S at birth were compared in infants grouped as extremely immature (gestational age : 22-27 weeks), pre-term (gestational age : 28-36 weeks) and full-term (gestational age : 37-41 weeks). The average of the serum concentration of 16-DHP S in full-term infants was 0.172±0.104 μmol/l (n=10, mean±S.D.) which was significantly higher than the levels of the extremely immature (0.106±0.054 μmol/l, n=14, p<0.05) and pre-term infants (0.088±0.066 μmol/l, n=33, p<0.01). However, 16-DHP S in sera from normal adults (age 22-73 years, n=40) was not detected.We investigated chronological changes in serum levels of 16-DHP S during the early neonatal period. In extremely immature and pre-term infants, these levels were significantly higher at 2-7 d than those of 16-DHP S at day 0 (p<0.001). The levels at 8-18 d were still significantly higher than those at day 0 (p<0.05), but in full-term infants, these levels did not change at days 0 and 2-7.These results indicate that 16-DHP S is a steroid specific to fetuses and neonates and the involution of the fetal adrenal gland does not affect its serum levels in the early neonatal period.
