Steroid sulfokinases

Crepy et oJ,., 1962 Shen et cd., 1963) is formfid in the maternal compartment. This last result confirms the relative physiological importance of the steroid sulfokinase activity in the fetal compartment. 

Other studies establish the possibility of transconjugatioa between steroid ester sulfates and steroid glucuronides. Also, circumstantial evidence for the presence of different sulfokinases and sulfatascs has been observed. 

After perfusion of anencephalic term fetuses with labeled pregnenolone, about 47% of the radioactive material in the perfusate was found as glucuroni de.s and 45 % as steroid cst er sulfates (A laeyuma et al., 1970). These values, wliich are in contrast to those in normal fetuses, could be explained by a sulfokinase deficiency in the anencephalic fetu.s as a consequence of the adrenal atrophy. 

It can be concluded that the very high sulfokinase activities in the fetus play an important role in the physiological function of active steroids but it is not yet established how these different enzymes are controlled. Xor is it yet known what the biological activity of these steroid conjugates is in this period of life, or how these steroid conjugates are transported, what is their half-life, and how they can be involved in the biological activities of steroid hormones in the fetal compartment. 

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