title: Gestational age and cell viability determine the effect of frozen storage on human fetal hematopoietic progenitor cell preparations.
abstract: We have assessed hematopoietic progenitor cell preparations (including CD34-positive stem cells) obtained from human fetal liver at 6-17 weeks of gestational age for total cell numbers, viability and the ability to tolerate (frozen) storage. Hematopoietic cell preparations obtained from the 16-to 17-week gestational age range had the highest total cell count and the greatest proportion of CD34-positive stem cells. However, these preparations were insufficiently robust to withstand the freeze/thaw protocol required. Cells obtained from the 13- to 15-week gestational age range showed optimal post-thaw viability and it is suggested that these cell preparations are the most applicable for in utero transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology*; D015735:Mifepristone; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015735:Mifepristone