Aspects of Praematurity and Dysmaturity

Pregnenolone transferred from the placenta to the foetus undergoes 171X-hydroxylation, side chain splitting and sulfurylation (absent in the placenta) and is converted to DHAS. The DHAS may undergo 161X-hydroxylation (absent in the placenta) in the foetal liver and be transported to the placenta as 161X-OH-DHAS.