Journal Article Laboratory Components of a Maternal Serum α-Fetoprotein Screening Program Get access Karen K. Durfee, MS, MT(ASCP)SH, Karen K. Durfee, MS, MT(ASCP)SH Division of Perinatal Medicine, HCA/Wesley Medical Center (Ms Durfee and Dr Cho),and The Women's Research Institute (Dr Keel), Wichita, KS 67214. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Brooks A. Keel, PhD, Brooks A. Keel, PhD Division of Perinatal Medicine, HCA/Wesley Medical Center (Ms Durfee and Dr Cho),and The Women's Research Institute (Dr Keel), Wichita, KS 67214. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Sechin Cho, MD Sechin Cho, MD Division of Perinatal Medicine, HCA/Wesley Medical Center (Ms Durfee and Dr Cho),and The Women's Research Institute (Dr Keel), Wichita, KS 67214. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Laboratory Medicine, Volume 20, Issue 11, 1 November 1989, Pages 776–782, https://doi.org/10.1093/labmed/20.11.776 Published: 01 November 1989
Using a primary monolayer culture of porcine granulosa cells (pGC) as an in vitro cell proliferation assay, we have examined the growth-promoting activity of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) purified from term cord blood and midtrimester amniotic fluid. Increasing concentrations (2.5-20%) of crude human cord blood (CB) increased pGC proliferation, while identical concentrations of crude amniotic fluid (AF) were ineffective. When the cell system was maximally stimulated, AF dose dependently decreased cell proliferation. AFP purified from AF and CB (1.25-5.0 micrograms/ml) was not mitogenic alone, but, in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) + insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) (10 ng/ml each), AFP dose dependently increased cell proliferation to nearly double that of EGF + IGF-I alone. The response of pGC to the proliferative effects of AF-AFP and CB-AFP were identical at each dose of AFP tested. These results indicate that although crude, pooled midtrimester AF does not display the mitogenic activity seen in cord blood, AFP purified from pooled AF significantly synergizes with growth factors to increase cell proliferation markedly.
With the advent of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, our understanding of the reproductive system in both men and women has progressed in an exponential manner.Along with this increase in knowledge has emerged new and advanced laboratories performing unique techniques aimed at diagnosing and treating infertility problems. And as these lab
