Distribution of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in coelomic fluid and fetal adnexae.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the human gestational sac. Total lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes were measured in matched coelomic fluid and samples of villous and decidual tissues collected at the time of pregnancy termination in a group of 16 healthy women who were between 7 and 12 weeks of gestation. In addition intact secondary yolk sacs (n = 2) and fragments of fetal liver (n = 3) were collected. For comparison, samples of placental tissue, amniotic membrane and chorion obtained at term, were also investigated. In early pregnancy, H-type lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes predominate in placental villous tissue and coelomic fluid, whereas M-type lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes predominate in extracts of decidua, secondary yolk sac and fetal liver. These results highlight the important contribution of placental bioproducts to the constitution of the coelomic fluid. We observed also that placental patterns of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes change between the first and the third trimester of gestation, from the H-type to the M-type lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes. We suggest that the lactate dehydrogenase pattern might be an indicator of proliferative or differentiative potential of the trophoblastic cells throughout pregnancy.

[Modification of glycylglycine dipeptidase activity in the human ovary using follicle stimulating hormone. I]. / Beeinflussung der Glycylglycin-Dipeptidase-Aktivität des menschlichen Ovar durch follikelstimulierendes Hormon. I. Mitteilung

The glycyl glycine dipeptidase activity under the in vitro influence of two follicle-stimulating hormone preparations of different concentration was investigated in 36 ovaries. A significant impediment was observed under Folistiman, whereas under Anthrogon the impediment could only be detected with higher concentrations. The FSH/ICSH relation evidently plays an important role in this respect. The results are in support of the statement that the glycyl glycine activity in vivo also depends on the gonadotrophin production. At the same time they affirm the fact that not only endopeptidases play a role in the hormone metabolism of the ovary.