The origin of the rapidly adhering cells found in amniotic fluids from foetuses with neural tube defects.

The number and morphologies of cells rapidly adhering to glass (RA cells) found in amniotic fluids from foetuses with neural tube defects is independent of soluble factors in the supernatant fluid. Cells taken directly from brain and spinal cord of normal foetuses, which are rapidly adherent in culture, show numerous similarities to those RA cells which are present in the amniotic fluids of foetuses with neural tube defects. This suggests that RA cells in amniotic fluid may be reliably used as a diagnostic marker of foetal lesions involving neural tissue, in particular spina bifida and anencephaly. Other RA cells extracted from foetal peritoneal cavity and bone marrow also have distinctive morphologies and may be useful in early antenatal diagnosis of congenital defects such as exomphalos.