Open AccessUltrastructure of Cell Detachment from the Human Fetus in Early Pregnancy
Author(s) -
Bergström Staffan
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016348009154636
Subject(s) - fetus , medicine , exfoliative cytology , ultrastructure , pregnancy , obstetrics , amniotic fluid , pathology , cytology , biology , genetics
The recently confirmed value of amniotic fluid cytology as a tool in the determination of fetal maturity constitutes the background of the present study, in which the exfoliative capacity of human fetal skin was investigated with correlate ultrastructural methods. By transmission and scanning electron microscopy, detachment mechanisms are elucidated in the fetal periderm. It is concluded that the exfoliative capacity prevailing in early pregnancy fetal skin is different from the maturity‐related exfoliative capacity in the third trimester. Both kinds of exfoliated cell material constitute antenatally available fetal tissue, the utilisation of which in antenatal diagnosis may be extended.