Assay conditions were studied for eleven lysosomal enzymes (,l-D-galactosidase, a-D-mannosidase, Q-hexosaminidase, /l-D-glucuronidase, a-n-galactosidase, a-D-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, f3-D-glucosidase, a-L-fucosidase, a-D-neuraminidase and a-L-iduronidase) in cultured amniotic fluid cells (CAFC), cultured skin fibroblasts (CSF) and cultured embryonic lung fibroblasts (CELF), and the properties of the enzymes were compared among these cultured cells. In addition, changes in these enzymes from the three cell types were investigated between 4-6 earlier passages and 24-26 later passages. With the exception of a-D-glucosidase, a-D-neuraminidase and a-L-fucosidase, all enzymes assayed for the 4-6 earlier passages and the 24-26 later passages had the same Km values and the same pH optima, and were also unchanged with the increasing age of cell clutures, with regard to their points. The specific activities of R-D-glucuronidase, arylsulfatase, a-D-glucosidase and Q-D-glucosidase for the 4-6 earlier passages increased significantly with development, though no change was observed with development in the specific activities of other enzymes. Variations were observed between the levels of these enzymes in the three cell types with the increasing age of cell cultures, such as increases in some, decreases in others and no change in still others. lysosomal enzymes ; cultured amniotic fluid cells ; cultured skin fibroblasts ; cultured embryonic lung fibroblasts A number of inborn errors of metabolism due to deficiencies of specific lysosomal enzymes can now be diagnosed antenatally. However, less attentions have been paid to the variations in the activities of lysosomal enzymes of normal