SERUM DESOXYRIBONUCLEASE ACTIVITY IN PREMATURE AND TERM INFANTS

[摘要] 1. Mothers at term show a striking reduction in serum DNase activity and, as a group, their differences from normal adults are highly significant. 2. Postnatally, prematures differ significantly from term infants in serum DNase activity whereas term infants show no differences from adults. An explanation suggested by the evidence is that prematures exhibit hepatic immaturity in regard to DNase clearance so that when the burden of this function is transferred from placenta to liver it is inadequately performed. On the other hand, the livers of term infants are adequate to assume this task when the ductus venosus is closed and the placental circulation eliminated.

[学科分类] 儿科学