ESTABLISHMENT OF A TISSUE-BANK FOR FETAL STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTATION

Study objective. To analyse the yield of fetal liver tissue in first t rimester abortions and to evaluate the number of nucleated cells obtai ned from each fetal liver during the sixth to twelfth week of gestatio n. Design. Prospective descriptive study: Location, University Hospita l. Material. Women seeking abortion during a 12 month period 1992/1993 . Results. Out of 1271 women seeking abortion, 152 were asked whether they were willing to donate fetal tissue for fetal transplantation. Of these women, 105 (69%) accepted the proposal and underwent a modified low suction vacuum curettage. Fetal liver tissue was obtained in 61 ( 58%) of these procedures. The frequency at which tissue was retrieved was strongly related to gestational age and rose from 29% in week 6 to 79% in the tenth to twelfth week of gestation. The mean number of nuc leated cells obtained from each fetal liver demonstrated a concomitant increase with gestational age, rising from 16 to 43 x 10(6) per liver during these weeks of gestation. Of the 61 cases in which fetal liver was obtained, four subjects were shown to be abnormal by laboratory a nalyses and 11 did not alter the mandatory follow-up appointment. This left 46 cases for use in the program of fetal to fetal transplantatio ns. Conclusions. Most women seeking abortion seem to be in favor of th e idea of fetal tissue donation for the treatment of other fetuses. Th e possibility of obtaining fetal liver tissue and the number of fetal stem cells retrieved are closely correlated to gestational age. A tiss ue bank appears to facilitate the operation of a fetal to fetal stem c ell transplantation program.