Importance of vitamin C in maintenance of the normal amnion: an experimental study

Collagenous matrix in amnion accounts for most of the dry weight of the tissue and provides its mechanical strength and resistance to rupture. Cell and organ culture techniques have been utilized to study the influence of vitamin C upon the synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix by cells of normal amnion at term. The cultures have been examined using light and electron microscopy and metabolic labelling. These studies show that both epithelial cells and fibroblasts of the deeper stromal layer are active in the production of fibrillar matrix at this time. Matrix deposition by epithelial cells in culture increases several-fold when the vitamin C concentration in the supernatant medium is increased from zero to 50 micrograms/ml, and, at the latter concentration, a continuous anastomosing fibrillar collagenous meshwork appears beneath the cells. This study thus provides new evidence that an adequate dietary supply of vitamin C is probably needed to maintain the strength of the chorioamnion.