title: Ultracytochemical localization of adenylate cyclase in early human placenta.
abstract: A cytochemical study was carried out on adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in the early human placenta. Samples of placental villi were incubated in a medium containing adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) as specific substrate. No AC reaction product was encountered in placenta villi taken at 5 and 7 weeks of pregnancy. AC activity appeared at 9 weeks. At 9 and 10 weeks, AC reaction product was localized on the basal plasma membranes and on apposed plasma membranes of the Langhans cytotrophoblast. At 11 weeks AC activity was also clearly visible on Langhans cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast apposed plasma membranes. No AC reaction product was ever detected on the syncytiotrophoblast microvillar membrane. These results are in agreement with biochemical studies that localize AC on the villous trophoblast plasma membranes associated with the fetal circulation.
authors: Institute of Normal Anatomy, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Spreca
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Rambotti
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ferrarese
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pomili
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Angelini
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases