The origin of the rapidly adhering cells found in amniotic fluids from foetuses with neural tube defects

Abstract

The number and morphologies of cells rapidly adhering to glass (RA cells) found in amniotic fluids from human fetuses with neural tube defects was independent of soluble factors in the supernatant fluid. Cells taken directly from brain and spinal cord of normal fetuses, which were rapidly adherent in culture, showed numerous similarities to those RA cells which were present in the amniotic fluids of fetuses with neural tube defects. RA cells in amniotic fluid may be reliably used as a diagnostic marker of fetal lesions involving neural tissue, in particular spina bifida and anencephaly. Other RA cells extracted from fetal peritoneal cavity and bone marrow also had distinctive morphologies and may be useful in early antenatal diagnosis of congenital defects such as exomphalos.