Steroid sulphatase activity in trophoblast samples

Abstract
Summary Trophoblast samples were collected transcervically from 16 pregnant women who were undergoing termination of pregnancy at 8 to 13 weeks. Steroid sulphatase and arylsulphatase C activities were assayed on cultured and uncultured chorionic villi, whole fetal membrane homogenate and cultured cells from fetal membrane. High enzyme activities were detected in uncultured chorionic villi, suggesting that it is possible to make the antenatal diagnosis of X-linked ichthyosis by trophoblast sampling.