PMID: 8969934Nov 1, 1996Paper

Activity of the adrenal fetal zone in preterm infants continues to term

Endocrine Research
P C MidgleyJ W Honour

Abstract

In term babies, steroids from the fetal zone of the adrenal gland decline in the blood and urine in the first few weeks after birth. In infants born prematurely, fetal zone steroids (3 beta-OH-5ene steroids) persist but it is not known for how long. The present study set out to address this by examining changes in the synthesis and metabolism of adrenal steroids with postconceptional age, using serial measurements of steroid metabolites in the urine. 21 preterm infants, median gestation 29 weeks (range 24-31 weeks) and median birth weight 933g were examined. 3 beta-OH-5ene steroids represented around 90% of the total steroids excreted until 2 weeks past term, falling to 55% by 12 weeks after term. 3 beta-OH-5ene steroids were excreted in the urine at levels of 1500-2000 micrograms kg-1 d-1, until 3-4 weeks past term, after which these urinary fetal zone steroid metabolites declined, falling to 500 micrograms kg-1 d-1 six weeks past term. We conclude that activity of the adrenal fetal zone in preterm infants continues to term, after which it diminishes. This suggests that it is gestation that determines fetal zone activity rather than birth.

Citations

Mar 11, 2004·Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health·R GreavesM Zacharin
Nov 2, 2006·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·Shlomit Ben-DavidZe'ev Hochberg
Jan 16, 2007·Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM·Matthias HeckmannStefan A Wudy
Feb 12, 2017·European Journal of Endocrinology·A KulleUNKNOWN EU COST Action
Oct 12, 2020·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology·Michael SchumacherAbdelmoumen Ghoumari
Nov 6, 2001·Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry·J W Honour
Jul 3, 2021·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Donna Elizabeth SunnyMatthias Heckmann
Feb 15, 2005·Early Human Development·Robert HumeDaisy K M Koh

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