Differentiation in human chorionic villus cultures: hCG and HLA expression

The present report describes methods to separate, culture, and study syncytio-cytotrophoblast and mesenchymal core of the first-trimester human chorionic villus. The cultured outer layer cells (syncytio-cytotrophoblast) are multinucleated, pleomorphic, and active in the formation of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The mesenchymal core cells are more fibroblast-like in appearance, do not show multinucleation, and have less hCG in their culture media. Both cultured cell types express HLA (ABC) Class I histocompatibility antigens but not HLA (DR) Class II antigens. These and previous studies from this laboratory postulate different embryonic origins: (1) Syncytio-cytotrophoblast cultures of chorionic villus derive from differentiated trophoblast and preserve multinucleation as well as hCG hormone function. (2) Cells cultured from the chorionic villus core originate from extraembryonic mesenchyme. (3) Amniocytes (AF cells) cultured from amniotic fluid resemble the multipotential and early-stage trophoblast, retaining pleomorphism, multinucleation, and lacunae formation as well as production of hCG, progesterone, oestrogen, basement membrane glycoprotein, and Type IV collagen. These cell types cultured from the chorionic villus and amniotic fluid provide a means for in vitro study of specific embryonic cell lineages.