Characterization of cells of amniotic fluids by immunological identification of intermediate-sized filaments: Presence of cells of different tissue origin

CD117+amniotic fluid stem cells

“…Amniotic fluid cells derive both from extra-embryonic structures (i.e., placenta and fetal membranes) and from embryonic and fetal tissues. 9 Although amniotic fluid cells are known to express markers of all three germ layers, 10,11 their exact origin still represents a matter of discussion; the consensus is that they mainly consist of cells shed in the amniotic cavity from the developing skin, respiratory apparatus, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts.…”

Hormone release by primary amniotic fluid cell cultures

“…Amniotic fluid cells were cultured by the in situ technique and were obtained by amniocentesis due to Rhesus isoimmunization (4), anencephalic fetuses (2) and cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis (2). The number of cultures that were set up depended on the amount of amniotic fluid sent to the laboratory, which varied from 8ml from Rhesus isoimmunization to 60 ml from an anencephalic fetus.…”

“…L'objectif de ce travail a etc de mieux caracteriser la liberation hormonale par cultures primaires de cellules du liquide amniotique en provenance de foetus normaux et d'anencephales afin d'explorer leur origine et leur utilisation potentielle comme modeles d'etudes des hormones. 8 liquides amniotiques ont etc mis en culture par la tehnique in situ, ces liquides ont ete obtenu par amniocentese realisee pour iso-immunisation rhesus (4), anencephalies (2) et diagnostic cytogenetique prenatal (2). Pour tous les liquiedes amniotiques, le caryotype a ete obtenu par banding Q et G, les cultures primaires ont ete poursuivies en essayant d'obtenir une confluence et la morphologic des cellules a ete determinee au microscope a contraste de phase.…”

“…The different characteristics of amniotic fluid cells have suggested different origins: for F cells connective tissue of either placenta or fetal skin, and for AF cells trophoblast [10,11,18,19]. The origin of E cells has been ascribed either to fetal urine [21], amnion [17] or respiratory and intestinal epithelia [2], and for N and G cells either neuronal or glial fetal cells [16].…”

Analysis of Skin-Derived Amniotic Fluid Cells in the Second Trimester; Detection of Severe Genodermatoses Expressed in the Fetal Period

“…The origin of these cells has not been completely clarified although detailed studies of amniotic fluid cell cytology have been made and several classifications of amniotic fluid cells have been suggested primarily on the basis of morphology [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Investigations into the origin and differentiation of amniotic fluid cells using cultured amniotic fluid cells and antibodies against several tissue-specific antigens [7][8][9][10] have demonstrated that the majority of amniotic fluid cells are derived from the exfoliating fetal surfaces such as the skin, mucosa (oral, nasal, vaginal), respiratory tract, and umbilical cord [1]. A large proportion of the cells in amniotic fluids from normal fetuses and fetuses affected with genodermatoses was found to be Manuscript received February 19, 1994; revised June 21, 1994; accepted for publication June 27, 1994. Part of this work was presented at the 2nd Tricontinental Meeting of the JSID, SID, and ESDR, Kyoto, October 28-31, 1993 comprised of periderm cells and epidermal keratinocytes although a small number of nonkeratinocytic cells such as macrophages were included in amniotic fluid cells [11 -16].…”