[Distribution of salicylic acid and hydrolysis of acetylsalicylic acid in the human fetus in early pregnancy].

The materno-fetal transfer of salicylic acid and its distribution in the fetal organism was investigated in women of early pregnancy. Acetylsalicylic acid (Acesal) was administered orally in a single dose or in repeated doses at different times before legal interruption. The mean passage rates were about 6-15%. They were independent of the maternal serum concentrations of salicylic acid. The distribution of salicylic acid on the fetal liver, intestine, kidneys, lungs and brain was different. All fetal organs (9th to 15th week of gestation) studied exhibit an acetylsalicylic acid-splitting esterase activity. The esterase activity of the fetal liver was about 30% of the hydrolytic activity of the adult liver. The esterase activity was mainly located in the 105 000 X g-supernatant of cell homogenates.