The metabolic clearance rates (MCR), conversion ratios (C), interconversion (rho), production rates (PR), secretion rates (SR), and relative contributions of maternal dehydroepiandrosterone (D) and D-sulfate (DS) to serum estradiol (E2) were determined in five pregnant baboons (Papio papio; 154-167 days gestation, term = 184 days) by constant intravenous infusion of [3H]DS and [14C]D. MCR-D (mean +/- SE) was greater (39.2 +/- 3.3 1/day.kg, P less than 0.001) than MCR-DS (3.1 +/- 0.3 1/day.kg). Because C-D leads to DS (5.460 +/- 0.461) exceeded (P less than 0.001) C-DS leads to (0.006 +/- 0.001), rho-DS leads to DS was greater (42.5% +/- 3.0%, P less than 0.001) than rho-DS leads to D (7.8 +/- 1.0%). C-D leads to E2 was greater (0.256 +/- 0.040) than C-DS leads to E2 (0.002 +/- 0.000). Using these values and serum levels of D (2.46 microgram/100 ml) and DS (18.9 microgram/100 ml) reported previously, SR and PR of D and DS were calculated. Of the total D produced (11.5 microgram/min), 98% was secreted, whereas only 32% of DS produced (7.1 microgram/min) was due to secretion. Using the serum D and DS levels and their conversion to E2, it was calculated that 89.7% of serum E2 was formed directly from D, 4.4% from D via DS, 1.8% from DS directly, and 4.1% from DS via D. It is concluded that, in spite of the low serum D level resulting from a high MCR, the large SR-D and more efficient conversion of D to E2 makes D, and not DS, the major circulating estrogen precursor in late baboon pregnancy.