N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase of peripheral blood lymphocytes in ontogenetic development of man.

The activity and intracellular localization of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase in peripheral blood lymphocytes has been evaluated in 170 healthy subjects of varying age by means of semiquantitative cytochemical method. The groups of premature and term infants, children and adults have been compared with regard to cytochemical type of reaction and intracellular localization of that enzyme. It has been revealed that during last months of intrauterine life of man the granular type of reaction suggesting formation of enzyme-positive lysosomes becomes gradually more and more frequent. During further ontogenetic development starting from neonatal age up to fifth decade of life no significant alterations with regard to the numbers of enzyme-positive lymphocytes and the intracellular type of cytochemical reaction are noted. The last three decades of life are characterized by more frequent diffuse type of cytoenzymatic reaction within the lymphocytes suggesting a passage of the enzyme from lysosomes to the surrounding cytoplasm.