EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN TRANSPLANTATION ANTIGENS

Abstract
SUMMARY Human fetal cells grown in tissue culture monolayers were tested using the technique of mixed agglutination and were found to possess some of the antigens controlled by the HL-A locus. Gestational specimens ranging from 6 weeks through maturity were studied. All fetal homogenates, as well as cells derived from numerous individual fetal organs, demonstrated similar patterns of reaction by mixed agglutination when tested with a panel of 22 human isoantisera. We have been unable to detect HL-A antigens on whole trophoblastic syncytia by direct mixed agglutination testing and have not demonstrated that this material is capable of absorbing out antibodies directed against HL-A specificities. Absorption studies utilizing human spermatozoa also indicate that spermatozoa, like the trophoblastic syncytia, either do not express their transplantation antigens or are lacking in these specificities.