title: 5'-Nucleotidase activities in human fetus.
abstract: Specific 5'-nucleotidase (5'-N) activity in 17 human fetuses was systemically studied in order to get basic values of the enzyme activity. A wide spectrum of 5'-N activity among the organs was revealed. Very strong activity was found in placenta (42.62 +/- 19.24 nmol adenosine/mg protein/min), skeletal muscle (31.80 +/- 11.10) and skin (27.31 +/- 13.00); strong activity in liver (18.96 +/- 7.60), pituitary (15.06 +/- 6.13) and thyroid (12.69 +/- 4.47); moderate activity in lung (8.43 +/- 3.68), pancreas (8.20 +/- 2.26), small intestine (8.07 +/- 2.28), lymph node (7.26 +/- 2.22), thymus (7.06 +/- 2.52), spinal cord (5.86 +/- 1.96) and spleen (5.65 +/- 2.52), and weak activity in testis (4.02 +/- 0.79), heart (3.95 +/- 1.22), adrenal (3.46 +/- 1.68), kidney (3.16 +/- 0.83), ovary (3.16 +/- 0.72), aorta (2.98 +/- 1.20), cerebellar hemisphere (2.28 +/- 1.09) and frontal lobe of the cerebrum (1.49 +/- 0.54). These data are the first to be reported on specific 5'-N activity in the human fetus. The significance of the wide range of 5'-N activity among the organs, and future aspects on the study of 5'-N activity with respect to cell differentiation, maturation, development, aging or malignant transformation were discussed.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasahara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hazama
mesh_terms: D015720:5'-Nucleotidase; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000201:enzymology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000201:enzymology; D009708:Nucleotidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000201:enzymology; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000201:enzymology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D009708:Nucleotidases; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase