Lysosomal enzyme levels in human amniotic fluid cells in tissue culture: III, β-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, α-mannosidase and acid phosphatase

Fluctuations in the levels of β-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-βp-D-glucosaminidase, rr-mannosi dase and acid phosphatase in amniotic fluid cells with time in culture were studied. The four enzymes fluctuated markedly with passage; no consistent trends were apparent. The activity of a-mannosidase in amniotic fluid cell strains at the third passage was correlated with the time taken to reach confluency. There was no consistent pattern of enzyme activity associated with the time after subculture. Enzyme levels in cell strains derived from serial samples of amniotic fluid from several women showed large differences in activity unrelated to gestational age. The significance of the findings are discussed in relation to antenatal diagnosis of inborn errors of lysosomal metabolism.