title: Plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity in normal full-term newborn infants.
abstract: Plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was studied in 100 normal full-term newborn infants during the first few days of life. The present study shows that plasma LCAT activity present at birth-though at much lower levels than those in the maternal blood-undergoes a fall after birth followed by a rise. It is also shown that the activity of the plasma LCAT enzyme is not strictly linked to the esterification of plasma-free cholesterol in the first three days after birth. However, from the fourth day onwards, there was a good correlation between LCAT activity and esterification of plasma-free cholesterol. The results suggest that plasma LCAT in newborn infants could be partially derived from maternal sources.
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004951:Esterification; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D002784:Cholesterol; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase