Abstract
The total quantity of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) is subject to developmental, humoral, pathological and genetic variables. The developmental and humoral mechanisms which effect changes in Hb F might be further clarified by comparing the dynamics of F-cell number and quantities of Hb F/F-cell. Changes in relative numbers of F-cells and A-cells and quantities of Hb F/F-cell and Hb A/A-cell were measured by single cell immunodiffusion, using fluorescein-conjugated anti-Hb F and anti-Hb A, in term cord blood, 3-month old children, and nonpregnant and pregnant adults. Over the indicated developmental interval relative A-cell number and mean Hb A/A-cell increased 1.71 and 1.40, respectively. In contrast relative F-cell number and mean Hb F/F-cell declined 26.23 and 1.32 fold, respectively. In the female at midtrimester pregnancy A-cell number and Hb A/A-cell increased 1.07 (NS) and 1.01 (NS) fold, respectively, whereas these same parameters for F-cells increased 2.96 and 1.14 fold. It is concluded that within the detection range of the immunodiffusion technique both the mean intracellular quantity of Hb F and the F-cell frequency show decrease during late development, but at dissimilar rates. Presumably humoral signals in midtrimester pregnancy promote disproportionate increases in both F-cell frequency and detectable Hb F/F-cell.
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Headings, V., Anyaibe, S. & Bhattacharya, S. 186 DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN F-CELLS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 394 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00191
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00191
