[11-Desoxycorticosterone * (DOC) during pregnancy and labor].

In this paper investigations into the increase in the concentration of DOC during the 8th and 40th week of pregnancy are described. It was found that the DOC values sub partu in the umbilical cord are higher than in the maternal blood and that a rapid decrease in the corticoid level occurs post partum both in the mother and in the infant. The fetoplacental unit is discussed as the possible site of synthesis of the steroid.