Glycolitic enzymes in the human amniotic fluid

Riassunto È stata messa in evidenza nel liquido amniotico di donne a termine di gravidanza la presenza di alcuni enzimi glicolitici. Sono riportati i dati quantitativi ottenuti per l'attività della fosforiboso-isomerasi, aldolasi, fosfoesoso-isomerasi e lattico-deidrogenasi. È stato determinato inoltre il contenuto proteico dei campioni di liquido amniotico presi in esame.     

Immunoactive TSH in the amniotic fluid of the rat

Summary Amniotic fluid was obtained from 19-day-old rat fetuses by aspiration. Pooled samples measured at 4 different dilutions demonstrated parallelism with standard rat TSH. It is concluded that rat amniotic fluid has TSH immunoactivity.This work was supported by Hong Kong University Research Grant No. 335/034/5727.The authors wish to acknowledge with thanks the gift of rat TSH RIA kit from Dr A. F. Parlow and the Rat Pituitary Programme of NIAMDD.     

The development of the amylase activity in blood and its behaviour in the amniotic fluid in rats

Zusammenfassung Die Amylaseaktivität im Blut von Wistarratten steigt bis zum Ende der Säugeperiode an. In der Amnionflüssigkeit fehlt sie zunächst, nimmt oberhalb eines Fötalgewichtes von 2 g auf ein Vielfaches der Blutwerte zu und fällt mit schwindender Amnionflüssigkeit am Ende der Gravidität stark ab.     

Collagenolytic enzymes in human serum

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe des synthetischen Kollagenasesubstrates PZ-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-D-Arg wurden im humanen Serum kollagenolytische Enzyme nachgewiesen, deren Spezifität der Clostridiopeptidase A entspricht. Die Spaltungsgeschwindikeit zeigt in Abhängigkeit von pH ein Optimum bei pH 7,2 und bei pH 8,0. Das spricht für die Existenz zweier Enzyme. Zur quantitativen Bestimmung der Enzymaktivitäten wurde eine Methode ausgearbeitet, mit der eine Reihe von normalen humanen Seren analysiert wurde.     

Variations of non conjugated steroids in the amniotic fluid during the last weeks of pregnancy]

Levels of cortisol, estradiol and progesterone were measured in 172 amniotic fluid samples collected by amniocentesis during late pregnancy. An increase in cortisol and estradiol levels was observed three weeks before vaginal delivery of term and premature infants; in both types of delivery, onset of labor was spontaneous. In contrast progesterone levels were only slightly decreased in these cases.     

Permeability of the isolated human amniotic membrane to divalent cations]

Membrane potential and resistance recordings, in vitro, show that Mg++ does not pass through the amnion from the inside of the amniotic compartment to the outside of the amniotic membrane. Mg++ may become fixed on the surface or in the midst of the amniotic membrane. However, Mg++ diffuses in the opposite direction. Ca++, Ba++, Sr++ diffuse in both directions across the amniotic membrane.     

Diagnosis of the presence of meconium in amniotic fluid by dispersion curves of the longitudinal relaxations of protons]

Dispersion curves of the longitudinal relaxation T1 of protons in healthy amniotic fluid in a meconium solution are distinct at low Larmor frequencies (V0 less than 100 kHz). We are thus able to distinguish these fluids by T1 measurements in this range.     

Levels of beta-trace protein and lysozyme in human amniotic fluids.

The levels of beta-trace protein and lysozyme were estimated in amniotic fluids from normal fetuses and from fetuses with neuraltube defects. The values of these proteins in normal amniotic fluids were found to be similar to those detected in fetuses with anencephaly and spina bifida. The levels of lysozyme were shown to be correlated with gestational age.     

Effect of amniotic fluid and fetal bovine serum on the morphogenesis of mouse duodenal villi in organ culture

Summary When duodenal explants of 15-day mouse foetuses are cultured in Trowell T8 medium during 72 h, villi do not develop. If mouse amniotic fluid (25%) is added to the same medium, short villi appear after 12 h of culture and medium size villi are seen at 48 h. Bovine amniotic fluid and fetal bovine serum promote cell growth but morphogenesis of intestinal villi is far less stimulated.Supported by grand MA-6069 from the Medical Research Council of Canada.     

Subcellular distribution of catecholamines and enzymes in human neuroblastoma

Résumé Dans 18 cas de neuroblastome humain la noradrénaline (NA) et la dopamine--hydroxylase présentent des profils de distribution intracellulaire identiques, suggérant un stockage dans la même particule. Le contenu en NA de ces particules n'est pas inférieur à celui des particules du nerf splénique; on peut en conclure qu'un stockage défectueux de NA dans les cas de neuroblastome est peu probable.

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The authors are grateful to Prof.F. Derom (Surgical Clinic, University of Ghent Medical School), Prof.R. Eeckels and Prof.E. Eggermont (Paediatric Clinic, University of Leuven Medical School), Prof.A. Lacquet and Prof.J. Gruwez (Surgical Clinic, University of Leuven Medical School), Dr.G. Delalieux, Dr.F. Delange, Dr.P. De Mol, Dr.R. Denis, Dr.R. Maurus and Dr.J. Otten (Paediatric Clinic, University of Brussels Medical School) and Dr.W. Mattheiem (Surgical Clinic, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels) for making the tumors available to them.     

Improved extraction and determination of some glycolytic enzymes in the human erythrocyte

Zusammenfassung Die Aktivitäten von 7 glykolytischen Enzymen wurden in normalen menschlichen Erythrozyten gemessen. Kurze Ultraschall-Hämolyse und modifizierte Test-Bedingungen führten, verglichen mit den höchsten Werten, zu signifikant höheren Aktivitäten.     

Excretion of C19-Steroids in human seminal fluid

Zusammenfassung Sechs Stunden nach i.v. Verabreichung von 7-³H-Dehydroepiandrosteron-³⁵S-sulfat enthielt das Sperma eines 43jährigen Mannes 0.033% injizierter³H-Aktivität. Hiervon entfielen 0.010% auf freie Steroide, 0.021% auf Sulfokonjugate und 0.002% auf Steroid-glucuronoside. Die aus Steroid-sulfatiden und-sulfaten bestehenden Sulfokonjugate wiesen ein nur geringfügig verschobenes Isotopenverhältnis³H/³⁵S auf (3.78 und 3.40 gegenüber 2.88). In den verschiedenen Fraktionen konnten ausser Dehydroepiandrosteron auch Androsteron, Androstendion und weitere C₁₉-Steroide nachgewiesen werden.     

Potassium and the reactivity pattern of the isolated human myometrium to prostaglandin from human seminal fluid

Zusammenfassung Das Reaktionsmuster des nichtgraviden menschlichen Myometriumsin vitro auf Prostaglandin wird durch die extrazelluläre Kaliumkonzentration beeinflusst. Senkt man die Kaliumkonzentration, so wird der hemmende Effekt gesteigert, erhöht man sie, so wird die hemmende Reaktion nicht nur vermindert, sondern kann zuweilen auch in Stimulierung umschlagen.

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Financial support from the Lalor Foundation, the Karolinska Institutet, and the Lars Hiertas Minne is thankfully acknowledged.