Molecular differentiation of several enzymes in early human embryos

Abstract

Homogenates of two human embryos, one each at horizons 16 and 20, were subjected to zone electrophoresis in starch and polyacrylamide gels. The gels were stained to reveal multiple molecular forms of acid and alkaline phosphatase, nonspecific esterase, and lactate, malate, and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase. In general there were qualitative and quantitative increases in enzymatic activity with increasing gestational age. The enzymatic ontogeny observed was compared to that previously found prenatally in rats.