ABSTRACT

To detect the distinct proteins in amniotic fluid between nervous system malformations
fetuses and normal fetuses. Surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization/time-offlight mass
spectrometry was used to characterize amniotic fluid peptides in amniotic fluid between
nervous system malformations fetuses and normal fetuses. Protein chips were used to
characterize amniotic fluid peptides in amniotic fluid. Protein chips were examined in protein
reader, the protein profiling was collected by proteinchip software 3.1 and analyzed by
Biomarker Wizard software. Nine distinct proteins were identified in amniotic fluid between
nervous system malformations fetuses and normal fetuses. The results suggest that there are
distinct proteins in protein profiling of amniotic fluid between nervous system malformations
fetuses and normal fetuses.
Birth defects are structural, functional and/or biochemical-molecular defects present at birth
whether detected at that time or not. Two thirds of the major embryological anomalies affect
the central nervous system [1,2]. Congenital anomalies are the most severe disorders of the
central nervous system. They account for 40% of deaths of all children in the rest year of life
and in survivors they cause a variety of neurological disorders, mental retardation or drug
resistant epilepsy [3]. But where do these defects come from? Although some birth defects
are inherited, others are a product of harmful environmental factors known as teratogens, and
still others are multifactorial, resulting from a complex interaction of genetic and
environmental influences. However, in approximately half of all birth defect cases, the causes
are unknown [4].