Desoxycorticosterone in normal pregnancy

The source of the markedly increased secretion of desoxycorticosterone (DOC) in pregnancy has not been precisely defined. Earlier studies indicated that elevated DOC does not arise from the maternal adrenal glands. The previously observed steep gradient between fetal and maternal DOC and DOC sulfate concentrations seemed to point to a fetal source. A recent study suggests that Doc may also be derived from extra-adrenal conversion of maternal...