The placenta contains many kinds of enzymes in considerable amounts. It is probable that these enzymes are produced by the placenta and are released into the maternal circulation. The main isoenzyme in placenta is LDH4, LDH5.
This study was performed to investigate the effect of delivery on the maternal and cord serum GOT, GPT, LDH and its isoenzymes. The LDH activity has been determined by method of Cabaud-Wroblewski, and LDH isoenzyme was separated by electrophoresis.
Followings are the results:
1) The mean maternal serum LDH activity during labor was 245.8±71.2 units, which was significantly higher than that of normal non-pregnant women of 223.0±56.0 units (P< 0.05).
2) The mean LDH activity in cord serum was 448.4±146.1 units which was significantly higher than that of the maternal serum during labor (P<005), showing generally that the cord serum contained higher LDH activity than that of its maternal serum. However, 3 cases of the maternal serum were found to contain higher LDH activity than that of respective serum, 2 of which being nuchal cord.
3) The Correlation between maternal and cord serum LDH activity was found (r=0361).
4) When the compositions of the LDH isozymes of the serum obtained during labor were analyzed in terms of percent, and compared with that of the normal women, LDH5 was elevated during labor, and LDH2 was relatively decreased.
5) LDH3 , LDH4 and LDH5 in cord serum were higher than those of maternal serum during labor. Relatively LDH1 was significantly lower than that.
6) The mean GOT and GPT activities of maternal serum during labor were 20.7±62 units and 11.7±40 units, respectively, which were within normal range.
7) The mean GOT and GPT activities in cord serum were 33.7±15.7 units and 109±13.2 units, respectively, showing much higher GOT level than that of maternal serum-during labor.
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