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SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG) IN MATERNAL AND FETAL BLOOD AND IN AMNIOTIC FLUID DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD

To investigate the regulation and physiological significance of SHBG in fetal life, it's distribution in maternal and fetal blood and in amniotic fluid was measured. In spite of high circulating estrogens, the fetal SHBG-levels were 13.4-fold below the maternal blood-concentrations: 3.0 ± 1.0 (SD) ug/ml (n = 62) versus 40.1 ± 9.3 (SD) ug/ml (n = 64). No significant difference was found regarding fetal sex in maternal and fetal blood: female 2.9 ± 0.8 ug/ml (n = 29) and male 3.2 ± 1.0 ug/ml (n = 33). In amniotic fluid the SHBG-concentration was 1.1 ± 0.6 ug/ml in female and 0.9 ± 0.5 in male pregnancies. This difference is not significant. After the sharp fall of estrogens postnatally the maternal SHBG-concentration declined by 50% during the first puerperal week. In contrast, the SHBG-levels increased by almost 100% during the first week in the newborns of both sexes (5.6 ± 1.8 ug/ml). These findings suggest, that fetal and maternal SHBG-levels are independently regulated. While maternal SHBG is strongly influenced by circulating estrogens, the regulation in fetuses and newborns seems to be controlled by mechanisms other than induction and suppression by estrogens and androgens. It may be speculated, that the low SHBG-levels during fetal life are related to the increased biological steroid activity during this period. In contrast to other studies the measurement of SHBG in amniotic fluid did not prove to help identify fetal sex. Supported by the DFG, Grant No. Si 323/2-1