Ml. Brizot et al., FETAL HEPATIC ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN FETUSES WITH TRISOMY-21 AND TRISOMY-18 AT 12-15 WEEKS GESTATION, Early human development, 44(3), 1996, pp. 155-159
In this study we examined alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA expression in f
etal liver at 12-15 weeks of gestation in trisomy 21 (n = 13), trisomy
18 (n = 5) and control fetuses (n = 24). No significant difference wa
s found in the steady-state level of fetal liver AFP mRNA levels in ei
ther of the two trisomy groups studied. These findings suggest that th
e decrease in maternal serum AFP concentration found in trisomic pregn
ancies is unlikely to be the consequence of impaired transcription of
the AFP gene by the fetal liver.