[Cultivation of amniotic fluid cells for the purpose of diagnosing certain metabolic diseases]

A method for preparing amniotic fluid cell culture has been developed. The optimal conditions for the culture involved the incubation period averaging 17.9 days. Normal activity values were obtained for 8 glycosidases whose deficiency is responsible for the development of hereditary accumulation diseases. The data obtained allow a prenatal diagnosis of glycolipidoses (Tay-Sachs, Fabrys, Gaucher's diseases, etc.). The evidence on prenatal diagnosis of Tay-Sach's disease is presented.