Alpha‐fetoprotein and albumin in experimentally‐induced exencephaly in the rat

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Abstract
Alpha‐fetoprotein and albumin were quantified in the sera and amniotic fluids from control, Vitamin A‐treated non‐exencephalic and Vitamin A‐treated exencephalic rat fetuses. Exencephaly was associated with amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein concentrations which were significantly elevated over those of Vitamin A‐treated non‐exencephalic and of untreated fetuses. Amniotic fluid albumin concentrations also were higher in the exencephalic fetuses than in the non‐exencephalic fetuses. Serum alpha‐fetoprotein and albumin concentrations were lower in the exencephalic than in the non‐exencephalic fetuses. The results are consistent with simple diffusion across a defective barrier as the cause of elevated amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein concentrations in the presence of open neural tube defects. This experimental model of neural tube defects results in changes in amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein similar to those changes found in human amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein concentrations in the presence of neural tube defects.