The activity of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase was found to be significantly higher in the placentas collected after delivery from women in puerperium with symptoms of prolonged pregnancy or complicated by EPH gestosis, than in placentas from normal pregnancy. Isoelectrofocusing of placenta homogenates showed the presence of isoenzymes A, P and B of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase. Different isoenzyme A patterns in homogenates were observed in placentas obtained from normal and prolonged pregnancies and in those complicated by EPH gestosis.

The mechanical properties of the arterial wall depend not only on collagen and elastin, but also on proteoglycans. The quantity and quality of proteoglycans depend on the rate of their synthesis and degradation. Proteoglycans are degraded by exoglycosidases and proteases. In the wall of an aortic aneurysm, we found an increase in the activity of exoglycosidases (beta-hexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase and alpha-mannosidase) in comparison with normal and atheromatous aortas, which may indicate a participation of exoglycosidases in decreasing the concentration of proteoglycans in an aneurysmatic arterial wall.

Inhibition by ethanol of the activities of lysosomal exoglycosidases in stomach, small intestine, liver and brain of rats exposed to cadmium (Cd2+) was determined. Out of the glycosidases tested the most distinct effect of Cd2+ and ethanol administered to the rats in vivo was observed in the small intestinal mucosa in a decreasing order: N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase and alpha-fucosidase.

No abstract

No abstract