[Kinetic study of the in vitro penetration and metabolism of cholesterol sulfate in the human placenta : demonstration of a direct formation of pregnenolone sulfate].

The direct metabolism of cholesteryl-sulfate into pregnenolone sulfate is pointed out during in vitro perfusion of the whole organ and incubation of slices. The metabolite so formed represents a significant fraction of the recovered radioactivity. Cholesteryl-sulfate, which may be hydrolyzed into cholesterol, as well, is considered as a possible precursor of placental steroidogenesis and particularly of progesterone. Differences in the cellular permeability depending on the experimental model considered appear again during these experiments.