Urinary steroids from a newborn human infant. Identification of 2α-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione, 3β,15β-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one and 3β,15α-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one

Abstract

Urinary steroids from healthy newborn human infants were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The identification of 2α-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione and the characterization of its 2β-isomer is recorded here for the first time. Mass spectrometric evidence supporting the identification of 3β,15β-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one and 3β,15α-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one is also presented. Furthermore, the following 15-hydroxylated steroids were also found and identified: 3β,15ξ,16ξ-trihydroxy-5-androsten-17-one, 5-androstene-3β,15α,16α,17β-tetrol, 3β,15β,17-trihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one and 5-pregnene-3β,15ξ,17,20ξ-tetrol. The origin of these 2- and 15-hydroxylated urinary steroids is discussed in relation to current knowledge of 4-pregnene-3,20-dione and 3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one metabolism during the human perinatal period.