Biochemical determinations of arylsulphatase A activity and sulphatide concentrations in decidua of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation

ObjectiveTo evaluate arylsulphatase A activity and sulphatide concentrations in decidua of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation.Study designEnzyme activity and sulphatide concentrations were determined by biochemical procedures on samples of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation; thin-layer chromatography was also prepared to separate and visualize sulphatides and other lipid fractions.ResultsThe spectrophotometric values of arylsulphatase A showed very low values at 41 weeks, which reduced to a half at 42 weeks of gestation, while values of sulphatide concentrations increased in 42 weeks.ConclusionsThe behavior of two parameters examined could be due to the amount of placental estriol reduction, because of sudden placental aging.