[Relation between size of fetal and neonatal adrenal glands and steroid levels in maternal and neonatal serum].

Fetal adrenal gland is known to develop till term and decrease in size after birth. In this study, the size of the adrenal glands was evaluated by real time ultrasonography and steroid levels in the maternal and neonatal peripheral veins were measured by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry with application of deutrated steroids as internal standards. One hundred normal pregnant women at 28-40 weeks of gestation and ten cases of cesarean section, not labor, infants were selected for this study. The size of the fetal adrenal glands increased as gestation advanced. Levels of maternal 16DHA-S, P5-S and E3 correlated well with the length of the fetal adrenal glands. No correlation between the size of fetal adrenal gland and maternal DHA-S levels was noticed, except at 36-40 weeks of gestation. On the 7th day after birth, the neonatal adrenal glands were about 20% longer than at delivery. Levels of DHA-S, 16DHA-S, P5-S and 16P5-S in neonatal blood were 85%, 49%, 71% and 50% lower than at delivery during this period. In the present study, the relation between the adrenal steroid levels in maternal/neonatal serum and the size of the fetal/neonatal glands was demonstrated for the first time.