title: Cytologic localization of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in developing human placenta varies over the course of pregnancy.
abstract: Cytologic localization of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in developing human placenta was analyzed by avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase techniques with a polyclonal antibody to epidermal growth factor and a monoclonal antibody to its receptor. In 4- to 5-week placenta, epidermal growth factor and its receptor were found to be almost exclusively localized to cytotrophoblasts, whereas in 6- to 12-week placentas they were predominantly localized to syncytiotrophoblasts. These findings suggest that both are initially expressed in cytotrophoblasts in very early placenta before 6 weeks' gestation and thereafter expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts in 6- to 12-week placentas. Their simultaneous expression in the cytotrophoblast of 4- to 5-week placentas and in the syncytiotrophoblast of 6- to 12-week placentas implies that epidermal growth factor may act in an autocrine manner in first-trimester placentas. By contrast, in second- and third-trimester placentas, epidermal growth factor was mainly localized to cytotrophoblasts, whereas its receptor was predominantly localized to syncytiotrophoblasts. These findings imply that epidermal growth factor may act in a paracrine fashion in second- and third-trimester placentas. The dynamic change in cytologic localization of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor in developing human placentas may reflect the change in a possible role of epidermal growth factor in the course of fetoplacental development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ladines-Llave
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruo
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Manalo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
mesh_terms: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors