摘要:

The presence of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (PAPase) in human amniotic fluid is demonstrated. The identity of the enzyme was established by the demonstration that the activity of the amniotic fluid enzyme was markedly decreased by the addition of known inhibitors of the enzyme and the pH optimum. The specific activity of PAPase in amniotic fluid increases from 15 nmol of phosphate release per milligram protein per hour at 20–32 weeks of gestation to 82 nmol in pregnancies of 35 weeks gestation and beyond (p < 0.001).

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301657

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The blood flows to reproductive organs were measured by means of radionuclide-labeled microspheres in 24 pregnant ewes with gestational ages ranging from 38 to 141 days. The microspheres were injected in the left ventricle of the non-anesthetized animal 4–7 days after surgery and while uterine blood flow was recorded continously by means of electromagnetic probes on both uterine arteries. The blood flow to ovaries with corpus luteum was maximum in early pregnancy and greater than in ovaries without corpus luteum. Placental blood flow increased from ∼30 to ∼300 ml/min during the stage of placental growth (40–90 days). In the last 50 days of pregnancy placental weight declined, whereas placental flow continued to rise and attained ∼1,500 ml/min near term. The growth curves of fetal weight and placental blood flow followed a similar pattern, but the early increase in placental flow was more rapid than the increase in fetal weight. Hence placental flow per gram of fetus was larger in early pregnancy (∼9 ml/min·g) than near term (∼0.25 ml/min·g). In twin pregnancies the placenta of each fetus received a smaller blood flow than the placenta of a singleton of comparable age. Mammary blood flow demonstrated no change until the last 60 days, when it increased from ∼10 to ∼200 ml/min. This phenomenon coincided with an increase in mammary weight and the final progressive increase of placental blood flow.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301658

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Purified preparations of fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum from non-pregnant bovine uterus bind calcium from a medium containing ATP and Mg++. This calcium binding was enhanced in the presence of progesterone, while it is decreased in the presence of oxytocin. In the presence of both hormones there was an intermediate effect. PGF2α, when added to preparations that had previously bound calcium in the presence of progesterone, caused release of limited amounts of calcium. Under these conditions calcium binding was much higher than that observed in the presence of PGF2α alone. Three steroid analogs showed no effect on ATP-dependent calcium binding.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301659

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Serial electrophoretic experiments concerning serum and placental oxytocinases were carried out with a direct staining method for cystine aminopeptidase activity. The pregnancy serum oxytocinase and the lysosomal oxytocinase in human placenta shared the same enzymatic characteristics, with regard to heat resistence, sensitivity to L-methionine inhibition and electrophoretic pattern. These similarities suggest that the possible site of production of pregnancy serum oxytocinase is the lysosomes of the placenta, from which the enzyme is released into maternal circulation during pregnancy. Absence of oxytocinase activity in fetal serum indicates that this enzyme does not leak into fetal circulation. The physiological significance of oxytocinase was discussed with special reference to the oxytocin-oxytocinase equilibrium during pregnancy and labor.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301660

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The ultrastructure of rat myometrium was studied to determine the types and relative number of cell-to-cell contacts between smooth muscle cells after various hormonal treatments. Intermediate and close contacts were present between cells of the longitudinal and circular muscle layers. No nexuses were present between smooth muscle cells but nexuses were consistently found between fibrocytes surrounding bundles of smooth muscle cells. More intermediate contacts were present in the longitudinal muscle layer than the circular muscle. Close contacts were not appreciably affected by hormonal treatment. More intermediate contacts were found in tissues from pregnant or estrogen-treated animals than from estrogen-progesterone-treated animals. The mechanisms for electrical coupling between uterine muscle cells are discussed in light of these findings.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301661

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A simple, sensitive, rapid and inexpensive silica gel-impregnated glass fiber paper chromatographic method has been developed for the estimation of lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio in amniotic fluid, using malachite green as staining reagent. Respiratory distress syndrome was not found in infants with high L/S ratios in normal and drug ‘methadone’ abuse pregnancies.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301662

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

α-Galactosidase activity has been assayed using 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-galactoside as substrate in 66 amniotic fluid samples obtained between the 10th and 41st week of gestation. The mean activity decreases slightly between the 10th and 29th week from 2 to 1.4 mU/g protein and then rises rapidly to 8.2 mU/g protein near term. The α-galactosidase assay of amniotic fluid may be used as an indicator of the 33rd week of gestation.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301663

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

There are no chromosomal or biochemical abnormalities that can be used for the prenatal diagnosis of primary microcephaly. However, since scalp hair directional patterning is determined between 10 and 16 weeks of fetal life, and since at least 85% of patients with primary microcephaly show aberrant scalp hair patterning, it may be concluded that a deficit of brain growth and consequently also of head size exists by the 17th week of pregnancy. Thus, ultrasonic determination of fetal head size may permit the diagnosis or exclusion of primary microcephaly in the early second trimester of pregnancy.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301664

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Amniotic fluid testosterone levels were measured by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay technique from 75 term pregnancies and from 57 pregnancies prior to 20 weeks gestation. Statististically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between levels for term males (123 pg/ml) and term females (63 pg/ml) and between less than 20-week males (176 pg/ml) versus less than 20-week females (60 pg/ml). However, the hormone levels between term males and less than 20-week males were not significantly different from each other, and, similarly, levels between term females and less than 20-week females were not statistically different. In this study, the sex of 37 out of 38 male fetuses and 19 out of 19 females less than 20 weeks gestation could be correctly predicted solely on the basis of amniotic fluid testosterone levels. The implications are apparent for genetic counseling by using this rapid methodology for intrauterine sex determination instead of, or in addition to, full chromosome analysis.

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301665

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:0378-7346    

DOI:10.1159/000301666

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1974

数据来源: Karger