PEDIATRICS Vol. 64 No. 5 November 1979, pp. 604-608
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Testosterone and Estradiol Concentrations in Paired Maternal and Cord Sera and Their Correlation with the Concentration of Chorionic Gonadotropin

Robert Penny MD1, Albert F. Parlow PhD1, and S. Douglas Frasier MD1

1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, Harbor General Hospital, Torrance

Testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) concentrations were determined and correlated with beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) concentrations in 43 paired maternal and cord sera (22 female and 21 male infants). Mean (± SD) maternal E2 concentrations were significantly (P < .005) higher when the sex of the fetus was male than when the sex of the fetus was female (20.6 ± 3.9 vs 13.5 ± 3.2 ng/ml). Maternal T concentrations were not significantly different when related to the sex of the fetus (males, 114.8 ± 60.7 vs females, 113.8 ± 54.5 ng/100 ml, P > .1). Regression analysis did not show a significant correlation between maternal T or E2 concentrations and maternal beta-HCG concentrations. Mean cord serum T and E2 concentrations of male infants were significantly greater than that of female infants (T, 38.8 ± 8.5 vs 25.8 ± 7.1 ng/100 ml, P < .005; E2, 9.1 ± 3.3 vs 6.6 ± 2.0 ng/ml, P < .005). Regression analysis showed a significant (P < .005) correlation between cord beta-HCG concentrations and E2 concentrations for male infants (r = .7) and female infants (r = .6). A significant correlation between cord beta-HCG concentrations and T concentrations was found for male infants (r = .5; P < .01) but not for female infants (r = .3; P > .05). There was no correlation between maternal and infant E2 concentrations (males, r = .3, P > .05; females, r = .3, P > .2) or T concentrations (males, r = .02, P > 0.4; females, r = .06, P > .3). These data (1) confirm the sex difference in cord serum T and E2 concentrations, (2) indicate that the lower beta-HCG concentrations in mothers of male infants are associated with E2 concentrations which are greater than those in mothers of female infants, and (3) are consistent with an influence of beta-HCG on fetal T and E2 secretion.

Submitted on December 19, 1978
Accepted on March 6, 1979




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