Abstract
THE mammalian foetus synthesizes a serum α-globulin, called α-foetoprotein, which is not found in the adult of the species1–7. Although interspecies structural differences among the α-foetoproteins have been noted4–7, the protein of each species appears to be a homologue of foetuin, or bovine α-foetoprotein5,7. Synthesis of serum α-foetoprotein has been shown to occur in the liver in both the rat foetus8,9 and the human embryo9, and in the yolk sac of the rat9. The cells responsible for this synthesis are not known, however, and it has been suggested that the haematopoietic tissue of the liver may be the site of synthesis8. In the present investigation, the cellular distribution of α-foetoprotein in organs of the rat foetus was investigated by means of the fluorescent antibody method.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Pedersen, K. O., Nature, 154, 575 (1944).
Shmerling, Z. G., and Uspenskaya, V. D., Biokhimiia, 20, 31 (1955).
Bergstrand, C. G., and Czar, B., Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest., 8, 174 (1956).
Halbrecht, I., Klibanski, C., Brzoza, H., and Lahov, M., Amer. J. Clin. Path., 29, 340 (1958).
Tatarinov, Y. S., and Afanas'eva, A. V., Biull. Eksp. Biol. Med., 59, 65 (1965).
Kirsch, J. A. W., Wise, R. W., and Oliver, I. T., Biochem. J., 102, 763 (1967).
Gitlin, D., and Boesman, M., J. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (in the press).
Wise, R. W., and Oliver, I. T., Biochem. J., 100, 330 (1966).
Gitlin, D., and Boesman, M., J. Clin. Invest. (in the press).
Marshall, J. D., Eveland, W. S., and Smith, C. W., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 98, 898 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GITLIN, D., KITZES, J. & BOESMAN, M. Cellular Distribution of Serum α-Foetoprotein in Organs of the Foetal Rat. Nature 215, 534 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/215534a0
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/215534a0
This article is cited by
-
Immunolocalization of alpha-fetoprotein in the ovary and hypophysis of immature female rats
The Histochemical Journal (1982)
-
Alpha-fetoprotein: Cellular origin of a biological marker in rat liver under various experimental conditions
Virchows Archiv A Pathological Anatomy and Histology (1981)
-
Correlation of histology and alpha1-fetoprotein resurgence in rat liver regeneration after experimental injury by galactosamine
Virchows Archiv A Pathological Anatomy and Histology (1980)
-
Detection of α-foetoprotein in mouse liver differentiated hepatocytes before their progression through S phase
Nature (1976)
-
Purification of mouse alpha1-fetoprotein and preparation of specific peroxidase conjugates for its cellular localization
Histochemistry (1975)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.