Enzymatic equipment of lymphocyte lysosomes in the premature or term infants and in the adults.

The activity of some lymphocyte lysosomal enzymes such as: acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosaminidase was studied comparatively in 29 prematures, 20 term infants and 20 adults. The activity of lysosomal enzymes was found to increase gradually in the course of fetal maturation and later on after birth. The percentage of lymphocytes exhibiting strong intracellular acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase activity was highest in adults. Differences between lymphocyte beta-glucuronidase activity in the term infants and that in adults were less evident. The results of the study seem to confirm the previous assumption of certain authors that B lymphocytes, generally characterized by a low activity of lysosomal enzymes, are more numerous in the premature and term infants than in the adults.