A physiologic model of the dehydroepiandrosterone to estrogen conversion system in the fetoplacental unit. I. Development.

A physiologic model of the dynamics of fetoplacental unit dehydroepiandrosterone (HDEA) to estrogen conversion is presented. A mathematical representation of this model is included. The model is used in Part II to determine the rate constant of DHEA to estrogen conversion and to successfully identify those fetuses in jeopardy from placental insufficiency within the population studied. This presentation permits critical comprehension of the model without extensive mathematical background.