beta-Glucuronidase activity in amniotic fluid

A bimodal distribution of the beta-glucuronidase activities was observed within a group of amniotic fluid samples obtained from women by transabdominal amniocentesis in the third trimester of complicated gestations: lower enzyme activities were found in the larger subgroup and extremely high enzyme activities in the smaller subgroup. There was no relation between the enzyme activity and pregnancy complications. However, a sex-relationship was observed, in that all the children from all the pregnancies showing very high enzyme activities were boys. This may be due to the known stimulating effect of androgens on the specific activity of beta-glucuronidase.