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Enzymatic Development of the Human Fetus: LDH/Aldolase Ratio in Developing Human Fetus
Author(s) -
Mino Makoto,
Takai Toshio
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1967.tb02139.x
Subject(s) - aldolase a , fetus , isozyme , gestation , skeletal muscle , medicine , endocrinology , enzyme , biochemistry , biology , pregnancy , genetics
Summary Studies on fructose diphosphate aldolase during development of the human fetus were undertaken. Additionally, the relation of the activity of LDH and its isozymes to aldolase in developing tissues including the liver, skeletal muscle, heart and brain were observed. In the liver, the activity of aldolase was found to be low throughout pre‐ and postnatal life, while in the skeletal muscle, it was found to increase throughout life. In the heart, aldolase activity was relatively high during 4 to 6 months of gestation, and decreased during the remaining fetal period. No remarkable changes were observed during post‐natal development. The total LDH/aldolase activity ratio was high in the adult liver, while that of the adult muscle was low. During early fetal life these ratios were similar between liver and muscle. With respect to the development of these tissues, the ratio increased in liver and decreased in the muscle. From the finding of changes in this ratio, a critical period in the metabolism during development may be recognized. Such critical periods appeared at the 5th month of gestation in the liver and muscle. Further small changes in the ratio were found to occur only in the muscle at term. During development of the brain, the ratio of total LDH/aldolase decreased, while it increased in the developing heart. Critical periods appear at the 5th month of gestation in the brain and at terminal gestation in the heart. Similar changes were observed in the activity ratios of main component of LDH isozymes to aldolase in all tissues examined.