Utility of fragmented human fetal tissue as a potential dopaminergic brain graft in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the use of human fetal dopaminergic tissue as a source of striatal transplant in parkinsonian patients. This tissue is acquired by elective abortions. The possibilities of the use of this tissue were studied by macroscopical examination, cell-culturing followed by immunohistochemical staining and by high performance liquid chromatography. It turned out that 50% of the curettages obtained by suction abortion were too fragmented to reliably recognize the dopamine-containing area (ventral mesencephalon). Furthermore, dissection of the brainstem immediately after the abortion procedure seemed to be of utmost importance.