Ganglioside GM3 and sialidase activities in human fetal liver have been investigated. Gangliosides were extracted from fetal livers by the Folch-Suzuki method and analyzed by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). GM3 increased, but lactosylceramide (LacCer) decreased predominantly over the developmental stages. Sialidase in human fetal liver was mainly localized in the lysosomal fraction and its activity was high in the earlier stages of development. The optimum pH for this enzyme was 4.3~4.4. Sialidase was more active with the ganglioside mixture than with GM3, sialyllactose or fetuin. Fetal liver sialidase was still active (20% activity) in the presence of 25% methanol. These results suggested that the changes of the ganglioside GM3 and sialidase activity may be involved in the regulation of cell growth in human fetal liver during development.