Attempt to Recover Sodium Pregnandiol Glucuronidate from Chimpanzee Pregnancy Urine.

Abstract

Using the technic developed by Browne and Venning,,, for the recovery of sodium pregnandiol glucuronidate from pregnancy urine, a number of investigators have shown that gradually increasing quantities of this material may be recovered throughout human pregnancy. Appreciable amounts have also been obtained during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Attempts to recover pregnandiol from pregnant rabbits, cats, and monkeys have shown negative results. Marker and Hartman found no trace of any of the pregnandiols in pregnancy urine of rhesus monkeys. It has been found that some physiological and reproductive processes of the chimpanzee bear a closer resemblance to those of man than of monkey. Because of this fact it seemed desirable to determine whether pregnandiol could be recovered from the urine of chimpanzees. It was also hoped that in the event of positive findings an additional criterion of ovarian activity would be available. A series of tests representing various stages of pregnancy was made with two subjects. As a check on the application of the procedure, clinical specimens were extracted from time to time during the series. The procedure was exactly the same in all cases except for the method of collecting the urine specimens. With the animal subjects this was accomplished with the urine collection cage used regularly in obtaining specimens for pregnancy tests. Collections were made frequently from this cage and placed in a refrigerator until a quantity sufficient for extraction was secured. Since all specimens were used promptly after collection, only refrigeration was used for preservation.