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Levels of serum protease inhibitors during fetal and postnatal development of the pig

Westrom, B. R. LU ; Karlsson, B. W. LU and Svendsen, J. (1982) In Biology of the Neonate 41(1-2). p.22-31
Abstract

Using electroimmunoassay the levels of the individual protease inhibitors, α2-macroglobulin f, α2-macroglobulin s, inter-α-trypsin inhibitor, α1-protease inhibitor and α2-antitrypsin were studied in the serum and the amniotic fluid during the fetal and postnatal development of the pig. High concentrations, far above the adult ones, of α2-antitrypsin and especially α1-protease inhibitor, were observed in serum during the fetal period, contrary to the low levels of the α-macroglobulins. Thus, the development of these inhibitors in pigs differs markedly from the development in the human fetus. After birth, when the piglet had begun to suckle, the levels of all the... (More)

Using electroimmunoassay the levels of the individual protease inhibitors, α2-macroglobulin f, α2-macroglobulin s, inter-α-trypsin inhibitor, α1-protease inhibitor and α2-antitrypsin were studied in the serum and the amniotic fluid during the fetal and postnatal development of the pig. High concentrations, far above the adult ones, of α2-antitrypsin and especially α1-protease inhibitor, were observed in serum during the fetal period, contrary to the low levels of the α-macroglobulins. Thus, the development of these inhibitors in pigs differs markedly from the development in the human fetus. After birth, when the piglet had begun to suckle, the levels of all the inhibitors, except that of α2-macroglobulin s, decreased. This can partly be explained by the dilution of the serum due to the increase in plasma volume and losses via the urine. The sharp increase of α2-macroglobulin s during the first days after birth probably represented an extensive synthesis. All the inhibitors had attained their adult levels at about 35 days after birth. All the protease inhibitors studied, except for α2-macroglobulin s, were found in the amniotic fluid, and reached the maximal levels at about 55-66 days of gestation. These inhibitors appeared to have fetal origin. The physiological significance of the protease inhibitors during fetal and neonatal development of the pig is discussed. It is suggested that the function of these inhibitors might be to protect the cells and tissues from proteolytic attack by the formation of inactive enzyme/inhibitor complexes.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Biology of the Neonate
volume
41
issue
1-2
pages
10 pages
publisher
Karger
external identifiers
  • scopus:0020077974
  • pmid:6175350
ISSN
0006-3126
DOI
10.1159/000241512
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7531f668-b022-4f56-a9cb-5886a3326bb9
date added to LUP
2024-12-05 15:37:15
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:08:42
@article{7531f668-b022-4f56-a9cb-5886a3326bb9,
  abstract     = {{<p>Using electroimmunoassay the levels of the individual protease inhibitors, α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin f, α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin s, inter-α-trypsin inhibitor, α<sub>1</sub>-protease inhibitor and α<sub>2</sub>-antitrypsin were studied in the serum and the amniotic fluid during the fetal and postnatal development of the pig. High concentrations, far above the adult ones, of α<sub>2</sub>-antitrypsin and especially α<sub>1</sub>-protease inhibitor, were observed in serum during the fetal period, contrary to the low levels of the α-macroglobulins. Thus, the development of these inhibitors in pigs differs markedly from the development in the human fetus. After birth, when the piglet had begun to suckle, the levels of all the inhibitors, except that of α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin s, decreased. This can partly be explained by the dilution of the serum due to the increase in plasma volume and losses via the urine. The sharp increase of α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin s during the first days after birth probably represented an extensive synthesis. All the inhibitors had attained their adult levels at about 35 days after birth. All the protease inhibitors studied, except for α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin s, were found in the amniotic fluid, and reached the maximal levels at about 55-66 days of gestation. These inhibitors appeared to have fetal origin. The physiological significance of the protease inhibitors during fetal and neonatal development of the pig is discussed. It is suggested that the function of these inhibitors might be to protect the cells and tissues from proteolytic attack by the formation of inactive enzyme/inhibitor complexes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Westrom, B. R. and Karlsson, B. W. and Svendsen, J.}},
  issn         = {{0006-3126}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1-2}},
  pages        = {{22--31}},
  publisher    = {{Karger}},
  series       = {{Biology of the Neonate}},
  title        = {{Levels of serum protease inhibitors during fetal and postnatal development of the pig}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000241512}},
  doi          = {{10.1159/000241512}},
  volume       = {{41}},
  year         = {{1982}},
}