Biochemical determinations of arysulfatase A activity and sulphatide concentrations in decidua of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestations

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate arylsulphatase A activity and sulphatide concentrations in decidua of women at 41 and 42 weeks of gestation. STUDY DESIGN: Enzyme 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. RESULTS: The 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. CONCLUSIONS: The behavior of two parameters examined could be due to the amount of placental estriol reduction, because of sudden placental aging.