Researchers have recently uncovered significant information about amniotic fluid, a substance that has not been thoroughly investigated in medical studies due to the challenges in collecting it during pregnancy, particularly at different stages. The interdisciplinary research team is enthusiastic about utilizing this crucial substance to enhance prenatal and maternal health.
A team of researchers from Oregon Health & Science University has made new findings regarding amniotic fluid, a material that has historically been poorly understood in medical research due to the challenges of extracting it during pregnancy and across different stages of gestation.
Amniotic fluid is essential for the development and protection of a fetus in the womb. It cushions and safeguards the fetus while also contributing to the formation of vital organs such as the lungs, digestive system, and skin, all while maintaining a stable temperature within the uterus.
The latest study, featured in the journal Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, revealed that adding amniotic fluid to plasma—the fluid component of blood—enhances the blood’s ability to clot, which is crucial for the safety of both the birthing parent and the baby during pregnancy and delivery.
The exact role of amniotic fluid in fetal development is not well understood and warrants more investigation: the OHSU study is among the first to detail how the characteristics and components of amniotic fluid evolve over time, particularly those that influence blood thickening, and how these changes can impact maternal blood clotting. Improper blood clotting in a pregnant individual can lead to severe complications for both the fetus and the birthing parent, such as excessive bleeding during and after delivery.
“While it’s well known that amniotic fluid plays a vital role in fetal development, our understanding has been limited,” said Jamie Lo, M.D., M.C.R., the study’s lead author and an associate professor in maternal-fetal medicine at the OHSU School of Medicine and the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. “We analyzed amniotic fluid throughout pregnancy and concluded that its composition and protein content do indeed adapt to meet the baby’s developing requirements.”
This revelation prompted Lo and her colleagues to collaborate with biomedical engineers at OHSU to further explore the potential protective elements of amniotic fluid and to consider future regenerative and therapeutic applications.
The research was conducted by a diverse team including Lo, Chih Jen Yang, M.D., Lyndsey Shorey-Kendrick, Ph.D., Joseph Shatzel, M.D. M.C.R., Brian Scottoline, M.D., Ph.D., and Owen McCarty, Ph.D.
The researchers examined properties of amniotic fluid collected through amniocentesis, a prenatal procedure that tests a small sample to assess the pregnancy’s health, from both human and non-human primates at similar gestational stages. The results indicated that amniotic fluid enhances blood clotting through specific fatty acids and proteins that vary across trimesters, influencing coagulation regulation.
Recognizing the potential of amniotic fluid for diagnosing and treating various pregnancy-related conditions, the researchers are collaborating with Sanjay Malhotra, Ph.D., a professor at OHSU, to address pregnancy disorders, particularly those impacting the blood and blood-forming systems, which could benefit from the protective qualities of proteins and other compounds in amniotic fluid.
The team is also partnering with OHSU’s Fetal Care Program to collect special amniotic fluid samples from pregnancies undergoing in-utero surgical repairs for neural tube defects like spina bifida. By analyzing these samples, the researchers aim to identify unique developmental factors that could be targeted for future treatments to improve health outcomes.
Researchers are keen to discover more about the potential applications of amniotic fluid components and how these may be utilized to enhance prenatal and maternal health.
“Premature infants miss out on critical developmental time within amniotic fluid,” explained Brian Scottoline, M.D., Ph.D., co-senior author of the study and a pediatrics (neonatology) professor at OHSU School of Medicine. “By improving our understanding of amniotic fluid, including its development and valuable properties, we can open up a range of new therapeutic possibilities.”
“Our research is suggesting that amniotic fluid could serve as a vital precursor to breast milk—almost akin to ‘pre-term’ milk for a fetus in utero. With that comparison, could we eventually create a formula that emulates amniotic fluid for preterm infants, facilitating their growth and development while protecting them from risks linked to premature birth?” Lo further commented. “We are just scratching the surface of the potential that exists.”
