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A purification procedure of synctiotrophoblast plasma membrane (STPM) has previously been described. We now report a further characterization of their associated components. By immunochemical analysis two groups of proteins were found. The first fraction solubilized by chaotrope treatment was made up with a complex of IgG, albumin, transferrin and alpha-fetoprotein. The second fraction, insolubilized by KCl-treatment but by detergents, did not react with antisera to human proteins; it contained human chorionic gonadotropin and placental lactogen. The amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid content of STPM were determined. High galactosyl- and sialyl-transferase activities were found in purified STPM. The role of these various components on the acceptance of the fetal allograft is discussed.

1. The authors have studied changes of glucosyl-, galactosyl- and sialyl-transferase activities in the sera of women during pregnancy and the early post-partum period, and in neonates from birth to 1 yr of age. 2. Galactosyl- and glucosyl-transferase activities throughout pregnancy were high in comparison to control values, and increased with advancing gestation. In the early post-partum period, the activities of these enzymes decreased markedly, reaching values similar to those of control subjects. 3. There were no variations, however, in serum sialyl-transferase activity at any stage of pregnancy or the post-partum period. In newborn infants, serum glucosyl- and sialyl-transferase activities were identical to control values. 4. Galactosyl-transferase activity was high at birth, decreased progressively and returned to the normal range only after 1 yr. 5. The physiological significance of these glycosyl-transferases in the sera of pregnant women and newborn infants is discussed.

A highly sensitive and reproducible radioimmunoassay was established to detect transferrin in human fluids. By this technique, applied to seminal fluid, transferrin levels (micrograms/ml) were found in normozoospermic individuals (64.49 +/- 25.41) at level higher than in oligozoospermic (38.93 +/- 21.35), azoospermic (19.49 +/- 10.23), or vasectomized (19.61 +/- 8.95) subjects. A relationship between transferrin and spermatozoid concentration in sperm was shown. These results reinforce previous findings that seminal transferrin can be used as a reliable clinical marker of Sertoli Cell function.