Expression of insulin-like growth factor in the placenta of intrauterine growth-retarded human fetuses.
Acta Histochem
; 103(2): 195-207, 2001 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11368100
ABSTRACT
Many cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) are the result of placental and fetal tissue insufficiency. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is known to play a role in placental and fetal growth. An immunocytochemical study was performed to localize IGF-I peptides in human placenta and umbilical cords of normal (n = 3) and IUGR (n = 3) fetuses. The peripartum fetal conditions were evaluated as well. Immunoreactive IGF-I was detected in the cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast, amnion, endothelial cells of fetal capillaries and in the decidua in both normal and IUGR placental tissue. A more robust immunostaining and increased numbers of positively stained cells were found in the decidua of IUGR placenta (p < 0.001). Intense immunostaining was also found in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts of the umbilical vein. IGF-I immunoreactivity was also present in stroma (Hofbauer cells and/or fibroblasts) of IUGR villi. Our results indicate that expression of IGF-I is high in specific sites in placenta and umbilical cords, which indicates a paracrine and/or endocrine function. The increased expression of IGF-I in placenta of IUGR fetuses indicates its involvement in restoring normal growth by means of a positive feed-back mechanism.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Placenta
/
Fator de Crescimento Insulin-Like I
/
Retardo do Crescimento Fetal
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Acta Histochem
Ano de publicação:
2001
Tipo de documento:
Article