Enrichment of fetal trophoblast cells from the maternal peripheral blood followed by detection of fetal deoxyribonucleic acid with a nested X/Y polymerase chain reaction

Article Abstract:

Fetal trophoblast cells may be isolated from maternal blood samples to provide a noninvasive means of predicting the fetus's sex before birth. Researchers obtained blood samples from women in their first trimester of pregnancy before either chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis were performed, and enriched the blood before conducting polymerase chain reaction analysis. The sex of the fetus was correctly determined in 33 of 36 maternal blood samples, sometimes as early as eight weeks of pregnancy. One false-positive and two false-negative results were obtained, with a positive result indicating the presence of the Y male chromosome. Fetal trophoblast cells may be present in the mother's blood early in pregnancy and differ from fetal cells left over from previous pregnancies. Refinement of the technique may be useful for very early, non-invasive prenatal screening.

Innovations, Physiological aspects, Sex determination, Diagnostic, Sex determination (Diagnosis), Trophoblast, Trophoblasts

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Strategies to respond to polymerase chain reaction deoxyribonucleic acid amplification failure in a preimplantation genetic diagnosis program

Article Abstract:

Modifications of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique may improve the probability of providing an accurate genetic profile of an embryo in a timely manner for in vitro fertilization procedures. PCR is a laboratory technique that rapidly replicates tiny amounts of DNA, increasing its quantity. This permits genetic analysis. Researchers used PCR to analyze cultured human lymphoblast cells known to be genetically abnormal, abnormal embryos from in vitro fertilization, and embryos from a couple having in vitro fertilization to avoid conceiving a child with Tay-Sachs disease. Using two cells for the PCR technique increased the likelihood of producing enough DNA for analysis. Repeating PCR with a modified version of the technique also increased the number of successes.

Usage, Diagnosis, Genetic disorders, Gene amplification

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Characterization of the biologic activities of a recombinant human zona pellucida protein 3 expressed in human ovarian teratocarcinoma (PA-1) cells

Article Abstract:

Researchers were able to express a recombinant form of the human zona pellucida protein 3 in an ovarian cancer cell line. This protein is the sperm receptor on the egg cell. A recombinant form of the protein could be used therapeutically to treat male infertility.

Research, Fertilization (Biology), Zona pellucida

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