Darne J, McGarrigle H H, Lachelin G C
Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1987 Mar;94(3):227-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1987.tb02359.x.
Saliva steroid levels reflect the unbound unconjugated (free, biologically active) plasma hormone levels. Saliva oestriol (E3), oestradiol (E2), oestrone (E1) and progesterone levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay in saliva samples obtained twice a week from 18 weeks gestation until 38 days before delivery and then daily until the spontaneous onset of labour at term from 20 normal pregnant women. The overall percentage increases in the median concentrations of E3, E2, E1 and progesterone were 718, 370, 80 and 214%, respectively, in the last 20 weeks and 149, 82, 24 and 41%, respectively, in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. The median E3:progesterone ratio rose slowly from 0.65 at 20 weeks before delivery to 1.0 at 5 weeks before delivery and then rapidly to 1.65 one day before the spontaneous onset of labour. There was an increase in the E3:progesterone ratio from less than 1 to greater than 1 before labour in every subject.
唾液类固醇水平反映了未结合、未共轭（游离、具有生物活性）的血浆激素水平。通过放射免疫分析法对20名正常孕妇的唾液样本进行检测，从妊娠18周开始，每周采集两次样本，直至分娩前38天，然后每天采集，直至足月自然临产。在妊娠的最后20周，E3、E2、E1和孕酮的中位数浓度总体百分比分别增加了718%、370%、80%和214%；在妊娠的最后6周，分别增加了149%、82%、24%和41%。E3与孕酮的中位数比值从分娩前20周的0.65缓慢上升至分娩前5周的1.0，然后在自然临产的前一天迅速升至1.65。每个受试者在分娩前E3与孕酮的比值都从小于1增加到大于1。
