CAJ | 학술논문

Objective To determine the concentrations of cholesterol sulfate (CS) in human sera and placental villi during the course of pregnancy. And to analyze its inhibitory activity on thrombin and further characterize the functional significance of CS. Methods The concentrations of CS were determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on 60 cases of normal pregnant women and 30 cases of normal placental villi. The effect of CS in human sera on the activity of thrombin was analyzed. Results The concentrations of CS in human sera gradually increased from the first to third trimester of gestation with a correlation coefficient of 0.69, and a correlation between the concentration of CS and weeks of gestation (P ＜0.01 ). CS was also contained in the placental villi, and its concentrations at the second and third trimester of gestations were 4. 7 and 6. 2-fold of that at the first trimester of gestation. CS inhibited the activity of thrombin. Conclusion Placental CS is one of the sources of CS in the serum, probably by shedding. From the observation that CS inhibited the activity of thrombin, the increased expression of CS may play an important role in the regulation of blood coagulation during the course of pregnancy.