Histochemical Studies on N-acetyl-β-galactosaminidase in the Ovary of Sexually Mature Women

The following results were obtained by histochemical studies of N-acetyl-β-galactosaminidase (β-GA) and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (β-GL) in the human ovary. 1) The distribution of β-GA was quite similar to that of P-GL, but the activity of βGA was lower than that of β-GL 2) Although no activity of β-GA or β-GL could be detected in primary follicles, some activity appeared in the theca interna layer of the developing follicles, and the activity increased as the follicles enlarged. However, no activity was found in the granulosa layer. 3) The activity of β-GA and β-GL was extremely intense in the granulosa lutein cell layer in the florid stage of the menstrual corpus luteum but was even more intense in the corpus luteum in the initial stage of pregnancy. The activity was lower in the theca lutein cell layer.