Abstract
The urinary 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-steroids excreted during the period of the first week by newborn infants were analyzed by means of gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to study the changes in the amount of these steroids. The changes in the amount of each steroid after the administration of ACTH were also studied. The results are summarized as follows :
1) Seven kinds of 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-steroids were identified in the urine of the newborn infants. 17a, 21-dihydroxypregnenolone was newly identified.
2) The daily changes in the amount of each of these steroids differed. Generally, the amount of the C-19 steroids increased day by day and that of the C-21 steroids decreased during the period of our observation.
3) After the administration of ACTH, the amount of these urinary steroids excreted increased at nearly the same rate.
