Premium
ENZYMES IN AMNIOTIC FLUID: A STUDY OF SPECIFIC ACTIVITY PATTERNS DURING PREGNANCY
Author(s) -
Sutcliffe R. G.,
Brock D. J. H.,
Robertson J. G.,
Scrimgeour J. B.,
Monaghan J. M.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1972.tb12185.x
Subject(s) - amniotic fluid , gestation , alkaline phosphatase , acid phosphatase , pregnancy , endocrinology , andrology , context (archaeology) , fetus , enzyme , medicine , enzyme assay , specific activity , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , paleontology , genetics
Summary The specific activity patterns of a group of enzymes were studied in the supernatants of amniotic fluid obtained between 10 weeks of gestation and term. A number of different patterns were found. α‐l,4‐Glucosidase showed a peak in specific activity between 13 and 18 weeks of gestation. Heat‐labile alkaline phosphatase had an early peak of specific activity which was similar to that of α‐l,4‐glucosidase and, in addition, a specific activity peak after 37 weeks. Acid phosphatase showed a peak of specific activity after 32 weeks. Hexosaminidase remained unchanged during most of pregnancy, although the lowest levels were found before 14 weeks. Finally, placental alkaline phosphatase showed a gradual increase in specific activity between 10 and 30 weeks, after which time a more rapid increase occurred. Expression of the results on a protein basis led to an exaggeration of the specific activity peaks in early and late gestation. The significance of the results is discussed in the context of their possible use for the estimation of fetal maturity.