[Immunological mother-fetus relationship]

Abstract

The immunology of propagation and growth is a field of medicine which has been developing in the last 3--4 years. On the basis of the literature data on clinical and experimental works from this field the author tries to explain the essence of the immunological mother-fetus relationship. The non-rejection of the fetus as a foreign transplant is made possible by the suppression of the mother's immunologic capacity (cellular and humoral) on the one hand, and the existence of protective mechanisms of the fetus on the other. Dealing in more detail with elements resulting in the reduced immunological reactivity and the increased tolerance of mother towards fetus, the author concludes that this increased tolerance, along with the existence of the intact placental barrier, is the basic factor which allows the survival of the fetus as an allotransplant.