Activity of Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase in Human Fetal Membranes

Abstract

The presence of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in human fetal membranes and alterations in enzyme activity during the gestational period were studied. Fetal membranes from term deliveries exhibited a high enzymatic activity, whereas membranes from preterm deliveries showed alterations with regard to the gestational weeks. These alterations were found to be similar to those which had previously been obtained from rat placentae during fetal growth and development.

Glutathione and Related Enzyme Activity in the 11-Day Rat Embryo, Placenta and Perinatal Rat Liver

“…It then steadily increased again in new born rats. This result compares well with that obtained by Higashi and Tateishi in pregnant mice [27], The pause in the in crease in hepatic glutathione coincides with the period when hepatic y-glutamyltranspeptidase activity is maintained at a high level [27,28], Furthermore, in fetal liver extracts the value of GSHpx with CHP was higher than that with H2O2. This suggests that the fetal rat liver contains both selenium-and non-selenium-GSHpx.…”

The Presence of Prolidase Activity in Amniotic Fluid and Its Evaluation as a Maturity Test

“…It has previously been shown that when the fetal growth rate is maximum, some metabo lites reach their value, and then remain at a steady state until the end of gestation [14][15][16], It is therefore possible that the high levels of prolidase activity between 32 and 37 weeks, when the growth rate is maximum, may be due to accelerated collagen turnover. High hydroxyproline levels accompanying the en zyme activity also support this hypothesis, since this amino acid is the product of proli dase action on collagen.…”