Cytology of bovine foetal fluids.

Cell contents of foetal fluids obtained separately from amniotic and allantoic cavities of live cows by transvaginal amniocentesis and by aspiration from pregnant uteri immediately after slaughter were studied using Papanicolaou's staining procedure. The samples obtained belonged to cows which were between ten to 24 weeks of gestation. Cell scrapings from foetal and membranous surfaces normally in contact with the foetal fluids were also stained simultaneously with foetal fluid smears by Papanicolaou's method to determine the probable origin of the cells detected in the amniotic and allantoic cavities. The cell types were classified according to morphology and tinctorial patterns and their origin was deduced on the basis of similarity to cell scrapings from the surface layers of foetus and foetal cavities. The evaluation of foetal fluid cells revealed that a majority of cells are of foetal origin and that the cytological features of these cells may be useful in assessing the condition of the foetus.