5′-Nucleotidase Activities in Human Fetus

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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.