Alpha-fetoprotein and albumin in experimentally-induced exencephaly in the rat.
Alpha-fetoprotein and albumin were quantified in the sera and amniotic fluids from control, Vitamin A-treated non-exencephalic and Vitamin A-treated exencephalic rat fetuses. Exencephaly was associated with amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein concentrations which were significantly elevated over those of Vitamin A-treated non-exencephalic and of untreated fetuses. Amniotic fluid albumin concentrations also were higher in the exencephalic fetuses than in the non-exencephalic fetuses. Serum alpha-fetoprotein and albumin concentrations were lower in the exencephalic than in the non-exencephalic fetuses. The results are cosistent with simple diffusion across a defective barrier as the cause of elevated amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein concentrations in the presence of open neural tube defects. This experimental model of neural tube defects result in changes in amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein similar to those changes found in human amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein concentrations in the presence of neural tube defects.
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000418:Albumins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D014801:Vitamin A