The cholinesterase activity of the serum of newborn animals, and of colostrum

Abstract

In newborn humans, rats, rabbits and cats the cholinesterase activity of the serum tended to be near the adult level and to rise soon afterwards to about twice the initial value. In guinea pigs the activity did not rise. The colostrum of man and of the cat had negligible cholinesterase activity. In puppies the serum cholinesterase rose to 25 times its birth level in 3 days. This increase appeared to be due to the very high cholinesterase activity of bitches'' colostrum.