Pontifical Academy for Life Statement: Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Foetuses

SummaryThrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial cell surface proteoglycan with anticoagulant functions, also implicated in cell proliferation, cell-cell adhesion and differentiation. In this study we determined circulating plasma TM (pTM) levels in human foetuses at different stages of pregnancy, at birth and in childhood. TM levels increased with gestational age, the median level reaching a peak of approximately 165 ng/ml between the 23rd and 26th week, thereafter decreasing gradually, reaching a value of 108 ng/ml at birth. pTM continues to decrease progressively during childhood, reaching in the 5-15 years group a median of 56 ng/ml which approaches the adult value. The pTM peak was statistically significant and represents a specific foetal phenomenon as it was independent of the corresponding maternal values. As a whole, the pTM pattern during foetal maturation appears totally different from that of protein C, prothrombin and other coagulation activators and inhibitors and thus, TM may play in the foetus another role in addition to its well-known anticoagulant function.

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Topography of muscular branches of the superficial fibular nerve based on anatomical preparation of human foetuses

Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger ◽

10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151728 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 151728

Author(s):

Aleksandra Karykowska ◽

Anna Rohan-Fugiel ◽

Grzegorz Mączka ◽

Joanna Grzelak ◽

Bohdan Gworys ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fibular Nerve ◽

Human Foetuses ◽

Superficial Fibular Nerve

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Serum somatomedin-C and bioassayable growth-promoting activity (thymidine activity) in appropriate and small-for-gestational-age human newborns

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1100032 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 110 (1) ◽

pp. 32-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

G. Thiériot-Prévost ◽

F. Daffos ◽

F. Forestier

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Thymidine Incorporation ◽

Serum Transferrin ◽

Normal Birth Weight ◽

Somatomedin C ◽

Activated Lymphocytes ◽

Normal Birth ◽

Foetal Growth ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

Human Foetuses

Abstract. The serum level of radioimmunoassayable somatomedin-C and the bioassayable growth-promoting activity evaluated by the stimulating effect of serum upon thymidine incorporation into activated lymphocytes have been measured in the blood of term human foetuses. Comparison between those with a low birth weight and those with normal birth weight has shown that small-forgestational-age subjects have lower somatomedin-C (0.31 ± 0.03 vs 0.52 ± 0.03) and thymidine activity (1.03 ± 0.11 vs 1.50 ± 0.07) (P< 0.001). A positive correlation between somatomedin and thymidine activity was found. There was no difference in serum transferrin levels between both groups. It is suggested that somatomedin, and probably other growth-promoting factors measured by the thymidine bioassay, play a role in regulation of the foetal growth.

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RADIOACTIVE METABOLITES IN THE LIVER AND ADRENALS OF THE HUMAN FOETUS AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF [4-14C]PROGESTERONE

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.0390153 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 153-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

MARION GREIG ◽

M. C. MACNAUGHTON

Keyword(s):

Umbilical Vein ◽

Polar Compounds ◽

Free Form ◽

Human Foetus ◽

Free Steroid ◽

Human Foetuses

SUMMARY [4-14C]Progesterone was injected into the umbilical vein of two pre-viable human foetuses. The first was dissected 14 min. after injection and the second perfused for 45 min. and then dissected. All tissues of the second foetus and the liver and adrenals of the first were examined for the presence of radioactive metabolites. Most of the steroids were present in free form, 91% and 92·5% in the liver, and 81·5% and 77% in the adrenals of the first and second foetuses, respectively. The main free steroid in the liver at 14 min. was 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (36% of the total free steroid extracted from the liver), whereas at 45 min. it was 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol (69%). In the adrenals in both experiments radioactivity was present in polar compounds, 47% at 14 min. and 60% at 45 min.

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ON THE SURVIVAL AND METABOLISM OF NORMAL AND HYPOTHERMIC PRE-VIABLE HUMAN FOETUSES

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.0230069 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 69-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. KULLANDER ◽

B. SUNDÉN

Keyword(s):

Body Temperature ◽

Survival Time ◽

Glycogen Content ◽

Adrenal Glands ◽

Early Stage ◽

The Body ◽

Protein Nitrogen ◽

Different Temperatures ◽

Human Foetuses ◽

General Reduction

SUMMARY A total of twenty-three human pre-viable foetuses (7–400 g.) were removed by abdominal hysterotomy (legal abortions) and studied during survival in an anoxic state at different temperatures. The duration of survival, as judged by ECG waves, at 37° c was about 3 hr.; it was longer for female foetuses than for males, and longer for large foetuses than for small ones. General reduction of the body-temperature to 4° c during periods varying between 30 min. and 6 hr. with subsequent rewarming to and maintenance at 37° c increased the survival time by a further 1–2 hr. The blood sugar did not decrease either during the period of survival or during hypothermia, but the non-protein nitrogen increased, while acidosis and hyperkalaemia developed. The glycogen content of the liver decreased during the anoxic period of survival and diminished further during hypothermia. The adrenal glands produced adrenaline in addition to noradrenaline during the anoxic phase, and this may occur in a very early stage of intrauterine life.

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