Long-term study of serum glycosyl-transferase levels in pregnant women and their newborn infants.
1. The authors have studied changes of glucosyl-, galactosyl- and sialyl-transferase activities in the sera of women during pregnancy and the early post-partum period, and in neonates from birth to 1 yr of age. 2. Galactosyl- and glucosyl-transferase activities throughout pregnancy were high in comparison to control values, and increased with advancing gestation. In the early post-partum period, the activities of these enzymes decreased markedly, reaching values similar to those of control subjects. 3. There were no variations, however, in serum sialyl-transferase activity at any stage of pregnancy or the post-partum period. In newborn infants, serum glucosyl- and sialyl-transferase activities were identical to control values. 4. Galactosyl-transferase activity was high at birth, decreased progressively and returned to the normal range only after 1 yr. 5. The physiological significance of these glycosyl-transferases in the sera of pregnant women and newborn infants is discussed.
Lacord-Bonneau
M
M
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Faculté de Médecine, Tours, France.
Khalfoun
B
B
Weill
J D
JD
Bardos
P
P
D005260:Female; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000097:blood*; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*
D005700:Galactosyltransferases; D005964:Glucosyltransferases