The dynamics of protein changes in the amniotic fluid of normal and abnormal rat embryos

Abstract

1.1. Amniotic fluid from resorbing embryos of rats on a pea-pellet diet contains a much higher concentration of total proteins than amniotic fluid from normal control-fed rats.2.2. Although there is little difference in the total globulins of normal and resorbing amniotic fluid until the eighteenth day of gestation, the resorbing amniotic fluid from the eighteenth to the twenticth day of the gestation period contains fourfold the concentration of globulins found in normal amniotic fluid.3.3. The concentration of A1 and A2 globulin varies very little in normal and resorbing amniotic fluid during each successive day of gestation.4.4. A marked increase of the beta globulin component is observed in resorbing amniotic fluid from the eighteenth day on, together with a marked increase in the gamma globulin.5.5. This study of amniotic fluid demonstrates that normal amniotic fluid at the termination of gestation is characterized by an increase in the concentration of albumin, whereas amniotic fluid derived from embryos being resorbed is characterized by an increase in the concentration of globulin, particularly beta and gamma globulin. These findings suggest an application to human material to ascertain if the same reversal obtains, and this problem is now under active observation in this laboratory.