Elvira Farías

Observations on the Chromosomal, Cytological and Anatomical Characteristics of 75 Human Conceptuses

Chromosome studies were successfully carried out on histologically identified tissues from 30 of 67 spontaneously aborted and eight full term products of conception. The anatomical structure of the amnion and chorion was normal in the eight full term cases and in 27 of the aborted specimens, each of which was found to have a normal chromosome complement. In three aborted specimens there were placental abnormalities consisting of hydatidiform degeneration of the chorionic villi, chorionic cysts and arborizing amniotic polyps. Giant cells were scattered through the bases, stems and dilated tips of the amniotic polyps. These abnormal cases had triploid XXY/diploid XY, triploid XXX and triploid XYY karyotypes respectively. In one specimen cultured cells from both the amnion and the embryo yielded triploid XXX karyotypes. The mean nuclear diameter of triploid amnion cells was found to be significantly greater than that of diploid amnion cells (P = 0.001) in the fresh tissue state and in tissue culture.

Technique for Investigation of Sex Chromatin in Amniotic Membrane of Rat Foetuses

THE letter of Bianchi and de Bianchi1 prompts us to comment on our own experience in preparing slides for the study of sex chromatin in amniotic membrane cells from rat foetuses. They mentioned in their letter the difficulty of fixing the amniotic membrane of rat foetuses with absolute or 95 per cent alcohol, resulting in coagulation of mucopolysaccharides and shrinkage of the cells.

Arborizing amniotic polyps in triploid conceptuses: A diagnostic anatomic lesion?

Abstract Characteristic structural abnormalities were found in an aborted human triploid/diploid conceptus and in 2 triploid human conceptuses. Arborizing amniotic polyps were present in each of the 3 specimens. The cell constitution of the polyps was found to be partially composed of mononuclear giant cells. There was hydatidiform degeneration of the chorionic villi in each specimen, and, in the triploid/diploid mosaic specimen and one of the triploid specimens, thick-walled chorionic cysts were present. No anomaly could be detected in either of the 2 triploid embryos which were recovered. Death and ultimate abortion of triploid embryos might result from abnormalities of the placenta and fetal membranes rather than from a lethal defect in the embryo proper.

Sex chromatin in embryonic rat liver

Abstract Sex chromatin frequencies were studied in the amnion and liver cells from rat embryos ranging in age from 12.5 to 20.5 days of gestation. Clear-cut dimorphism was demonstrated in both tissues at all stages of gestation studied.