5'-Nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase in developing fetal guinea pig brain and the effect of maternal hypoxia.

The activity of key enzymes of adenosine metabolism was studied in the developing fetal guinea pig brain. The activities of 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase were determined in the brains of fetal guinea pigs at 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 days of gestation. The level of 5'-nucleotidase activity was extremely low at 30 and 35 days of gestation but increased rapidly during the 40 to 60 day period. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of Mg2+ with the Mg2+ - dependent activation increasing with the age of gestation. This Mg2+ - dependent activity was primarily associated with the membrane fraction. Prenatal hypoxia significantly increased the fetal brain M2+ - independent 5'-nucleotidase activity at 45 days of gestational age and beyond. Prior to this age, no effect was evident. Furthermore, following hypoxia, the Mg2+ - dependent activation of 5'-nucleotidase activity was lost. The activity of adenosine deaminase was present at 30 days of gestation and, unlike 5'-nucleotidase, it remained at the same level until 60 days. The results indicate that the term fetal guinea pig brain has the enzymatic mechanisms of adenosine metabolism and thus the potential for adenosine-mediated regulation of cerebrovasculature during hypoxia.