[Several aspects of the study of human embryo brains]

Using the Coons direct and indirect fluorescent antibody method, cryostatic sections and cultured neuroblasts of embryonic human brain were examined for the presence of intracellular antigens. The embryonic brain tissue was obtained from mentally healthy and schizophrenic women undergoing medically indicated, induced abortion during the first four months of pregnancy. As early as four weeks after the onset of embryonal development, positive cytoplasmatic and nuclear fluorescence were seen, with one exception, after incubation with gamma -- chain specific, anti-human IgG, and antirabbit immune globulin serum. More rarely, positive fluorescence was seen following incubation with alpha-chain specific anti-human IgA. Tests with anti-human IgM were persistently negative. The serum of two acutely ill, schizophrenic women contained a factor which --a) could easily be related to the cytoplasm of embryonic brain cells; b) could be absorbed out with whole thymocytes obtained post mortem from human newborn and c) produced positive cellular fluorescence when incubated with chain-specific antihuman IgG and IgA.