title: Biochemical determinations of arylsulphatase A activity and sulphatide concentrations in decidua of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate arylsulphatase A activity and sulphatide concentrations in decidua of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enzyme activity and sulphatide concentrations were determined by biochemical procedures on samples of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation; thin-layer chromatography was also prepared to separate and visualize sulphatides and other lipid fractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The spectrophotometric values of arylsulphatase A showed very low values at 41 weeks, which reduced to a half at 42 weeks of gestation, while values of sulphatide concentrations increased in 42 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The behavior of two parameters examined could be due to the amount of placental estriol reduction, because of sudden placental aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Morphological and Biochemical Sciences, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy. emilia.baldoni@unicam.it
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldoni
authors.forename: Enea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Traini
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomassoni
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Indraccolo
authors.forename: S Renato
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Indraccolo
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vitaioli
mesh_terms: D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003656:Decidua / Q000201:enzymology*; D004964:Estriol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000378:metabolism; D013433:Sulfoglycosphingolipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D047929:Term Birth
chemical_list: D013433:Sulfoglycosphingolipids; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase; D004964:Estriol