title: Villous alpha-fetoprotein in molar and non-molar abortuses.
abstract: The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) content of chorionic villi from elective and spontaneous abortuses, diploid androgenetic and paternally derived triploid conceptuses was measured by a radioimmunoassay technique and related to the presence of fetal parts and chromosome constitution. AFP values above 10 kIU/l were detected in villi from all chromosomally normal conceptuses, except for one without fetal parts, and also in nine out of 13 triploid conceptuses and 19 out of 27 diploid androgenetic conceptuses. Early fetal demise may explain villous AFP concentrations below 10 kIU/l in one karyotypically normal and four triploid abortuses. The finding of immunoreactive, genuine AFP in diploid androgenetic molar conceptuses, assumed to be anembryonic, indicates AFP synthesis by abnormal trophoblastic tissue and intravesicular accumulation of AFP.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000032:analysis*; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000032:analysis*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D011003:Ploidies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins