Quantitative determination of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone in cellular fractions of term placentae of normal and hypertensive patients.

During pregnancy the placenta is both the source and target for the actions of steroid hormones. In fact, an intact feto-placental unit is capable of elaborating increasing levels of a wide variety of steroid hormones and many other substances. The falling levels of steroid hormones, like estrogens and progesterone in serum and urine have been reported during pregnancy induced hypertension and/or preeclampsia.

The effect of lead on insecticide metabolism.

The possibility that lead could affect the metabolism of the insecticide 1,1-dichloro-2, 2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane, DDD, was examined by studies of the effects of chronic oral Pb treatment on DDD conversion to 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)acetic acid, DDA. Rats were given either distilled deionized water or 0.05, 0.