Title: The characterization of sulphated metabolites of norethindrone in human milk after oral administration of contraceptive steroids.

POPLINE Document Number: 050878

Author(s):

Sahlberg BL

Source citation:

JOURNAL OF STEROID BIOCHEMISTRY, 1987 Apr;26(4):481-5.

Abstract:

The excretion of ethynyl steroids in milk from a lactating woman taking a daily dose of an oral contraceptive (Conlumin) containing 1 mg norethindrone + 50 mcg mestranol has been studied. Milk was diluted with aq. triethylamine sulphate and steroids were extracted on a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge at 60-64 degrees Celsius. Groups of unconjugated steroids, glucuronides, mono- and disulphates were separated on triethylaminohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20. Following hydrolysis and further purification, steroids possessing an ethynyl-substituent were isolated by chromatography on sulphohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20 in silver form. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the O- methyloxime-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of these steroids, showed the presence of norethindrone and mestranol in the free fraction and of tetrahydro metabolites of norethindrone with 3x, 5x, 3x,5beta, and 3beta,5x configurations in the mono- and disulphate fractions. The disulphate of the 3x,5x isomer was the most abundant ethynyl steroid in milk after 13 days of administration. The site of conjugation of the monosulphates was established by acetylation prior to solvolysis and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This showed that the 3x,5x isomer was conjugated mainly in the 17beta-position while the 3x,5beta isomer was conjugated at C-3. (author's)

Keywords:

Human Milk
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses
Oral Contraceptives
Steroid Metabolic Effects
Norethindrone
Data Analysis
Analysis
Lactation
Maternal Physiology
Physiology
Biology
Examinations and Diagnoses
Contraceptive Methods
Contraception
Family Planning
Metabolic Effects
Contraceptive Agents, Progestin
Contraceptive Agents, Female
Contraceptive Agents
Research Methodology