Open AccessPhospholipid Composition of Human Amniotic Fluid During Gestation and at Term
Author(s) -
Arvidson Gosta,
Ekelund Hans,
åstedt Birger
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016347209154970
Subject(s) - amniotic fluid , sphingomyelin , phospholipid , gestation , phosphatidylcholine , medicine , palmitic acid , fetus , phosphatidylethanolamine , composition (language) , second trimester , pregnancy , fatty acid , andrology , chromatography , endocrinology , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , cholesterol , membrane , genetics , linguistics , philosophy
The concentration, composition and fatty acid components of amniotic fluid phospholipids were determined in samples obtained at term and during the second trimester of gestation. The mean concentration of total phospholipids was significantly higher at term than during the second trimester. There was also a highly significant increase in the ratio phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin at term. Concomitantly the proportion of palmitic acid in the phosphatidylcholines rose to very high levels. Changes in the same direction were recorded in the fatty acid composition of the phosphatidylethanolamines. The present results indicate that analysis of amniotic fluid phospholipids may be of clinical significance in determining the pulmonary maturity of the foetus.