Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Long-Term Catheterization of the Intestinal Lymph Trunk and Collection of Lymph in Neonatal Pigs
Published on: March 5, 2016
The lipoprotein composition of amniotic fluid
The lipoprotein composition of amniotic fluid (AF) has been studied and it was found that it consists of high density lipoprotein (HDL) only. At about the 26th week of pregnancy the HDL content reaches a maximum and decreases thereafter. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis the HDL of AF was separated into two components if the agar layer contained an antiserum against apolipoprotein A-I. The component with the higher electrophoretic mobility (but not the slower moving component) could also be visualized with an antiserum against HDL. When maternal or umbilical cord serum (UCS) was analysed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis using the anti-apoA-I antiserum, we found that they only contained the faster moving lipoprotein component. If UCS was treated with phospholipase A2 and then subjected to crossed immunoelectrophoresis, the slower moving component appeared at the expense of the faster one. Likewise when UCS was incubated with AF from the 15th week of pregnancy or later, the lipoprotein component of UCS with the high mobility was partially converted to the component with the slower mobility. It is concluded that AF probably contains a phospholipase, an enzyme which may promote the onset of labour.
The lipoprotein composition of amniotic fluid (AF) has been studied and it was found that it consists of high density lipoprotein (HDL) only. At about the 26th week of pregnancy the HDL content reaches a maximum and decreases thereafter. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis the HDL of AF was separated into two components if the agar layer contained an antiserum against apolipoprotein A-I. The component with the higher electrophoretic mobility (but not the slower moving component) could also be visualized with an antiserum against HDL. When maternal or umbilical cord serum (UCS) was analysed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis using the anti-apoA-I antiserum, we found that they only contained the faster moving lipoprotein component. If UCS was treated with phospholipase A2 and then subjected to crossed immunoelectrophoresis, the slower moving component appeared at the expense of the faster one. Likewise when UCS was incubated with AF from the 15th week of pregnancy or later, the lipoprotein component of UCS with the high mobility was partially converted to the component with the slower mobility. It is concluded that AF probably contains a phospholipase, an enzyme which may promote the onset of labour.
Related Concept Videos
Fluid Mosaic Model
Membrane Fluidity
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Composition of Blood Plasma
Composition of Body Fluids

