title: Scanning gel densitometry of amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase: quantification of 'faint-positive' bands in fetal malformations.
abstract: The quantification of 'faint-positive' cholinesterases in amniotic fluid was performed in 40 patients with positive acetylcholinesterase (AchE) tests. Fetuses with anencephaly and open spina bifida presented an AchE/butyrylcholinesterase (A/B) ratio of more than 0.3 with clearly dense bands. Fetuses with gastroschisis showed a 'faint-positive' AchE band (A/B < 0.3). In 5 fetuses (1 teratoma, 3 open spina bifida, 1 unaffected) we found faint AchE and butyrylcholinesterase bands.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie génétique, Hôpital Arnaud-de-Villeneuve, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vallet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boulot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Demaille
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D000757:Anencephaly / Q000201:enzymology; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000201:enzymology; D013724:Teratoma / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase