Trophoblast sampling in early pregnancy. Culture of rapidly dividing cells from immature placental villi.

Trophoblast was obtained by ordinary suction curettage and by transcervical aspiration with a medicut cannula from women having a therapeutic abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. The decidual tissue which is invariably attached to early placental villi was separated and pure cultures obtained from the trophoblast layers and from the mesenchymal core of placental villi. Cytotrophoblast had a very limited life span in tissue culture, whereas mesenchymal cells grew rapidly and could be used for antenatal diagnosis.