title: Changes in amniotic fluid cathepsins with gestational age.
abstract: Activities of the cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and H and of the chymotrypsin-like cathepsin G were determined in amniotic fluid of rats during the last third of gestation. Activities of cathepsins B and G were found to significantly increase with increasing gestational age while cathepsin H activity decreased. It was concluded that cathepsins may participate in the destabilization of fetal membranes and therefore may contribute to their rupture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: al-Zaid
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gumaa
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bou-Resli
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002403:Cathepsins