Serotonin, 5-hiaa, total estrogen and pregnanediol excretion in urine during therapeutic saline abortion.

In 24 patients, who underwent therapeutic abortion for various reasons between the 17th and 26th week of pregnancy, urinary excretion of serotonin, 5-HIAA, total estrogens, and pregnanediol were measured before, during and after the intra-amniotic injection of hypertonic saline. 20% hypertonic saline solution (160-500 ml) was given by transabdominal injection over a period of 5 min. The four hormones or metabolites were measured during six periods: I; 12-24 hrs, and II: 0-12 hrs before saline administration, III: 0-12 hrs after saline administration, IV: 0-12 hrs during aborion, V: 0-12 hrs and VI: 12-24 hrs after abortion. The results point to the active participation of serotonin in the process of fetal expulsion, as serotonin was increased by over 100% (from 20-22 to 43-47 mu-g/12 hrs) during periods III-IV, and its metabolite 5-HIAA, too, increased by nearly 60% (from 2.4-2.5 to 3.3-3.9 mg/12 hrs). They decreased during the post-abortive periods V-VI. On the other hand, total estrogens decreased only slowly, but continuously, during all 6 periods (4.9, 4.3, 3.4, 3.1, 1.8 and 1.4 mg/12 hrs). Pregnanediol, beginning with 12 mg/12 hrs showed a slight increase during periods III-IV (14.5 and 15.6 mg/12 hrs) and a decrease during periods V-VI (8.0 and 5.8 mg/12 hrs). These findings are interpreted as indicating the disruption of feto-placental function affecting estrogens during periods III-VI. They might demonstrate an accelerated hydrogenation of progesterone into pregnanediol during periods III-IV, followed by a sharp decreased in progesterone/pregnanediol production during periods V-VI.