Sulfation of drugs and hormones in mid-gestation human fetus

Sulfotransferase activity develops early in the human fetal liver and is subjected to a remarkable interindividual variability. Because of this variability, the examined enzyme activities did not correlate with the gestation age. Hormones are extensively sulfated in human fetal liver and other tissues. Sulfated hormones may serve as circulating or intracellular stores from which the free hormone can be regenerated by the action of the sulfatases.