Objective: Amniotic band syndrome (ABS) is a rare clinical entity presenting with deformities of the limbs, craniofacial skeleton, thorax, soft tissues and umbilical cord. The importance of ABS has increased in the 90s in association with invasive diagnostic techniques such as amniocentesis or fetal blood sampling, and more recently even with exposure to some drugs (misoprostol). We decided, therefore, to investigate the mechanism of amniotic adhesion, most important from the point of the malformation origin. Design: Experimental study. Setting: Charles University, 3rd Medical Faculty, Center of Biomedical Science, Department of histology and embryology, Prague. Methods: Basing upon our previous experience, we used as a suitable model the developing chick injected intraamniotically on day 4 with whole calf thymus histone. Results: Adhesions between the embryonic body and amniotic membrane accompanied by presen- ce of necrotic cells were followed by deterioration mimicking all symptoms of ABS. Conclusion: Some intraamniotic drugs can damage both the amniotic membrane and the surface embryonic epithelium inducing the typical manifestation of ABS.

        Key words: amniotic band syndrome, experimental model