Electron microscopic localization of the Pa and RT1.Aa antigens on the placenta of the rat.
A major factor in the ability of the placenta to avoid allograft rejection is the differential expression of MHC class I antigens on its surface. Using monoclonal antibodies and the electron microscopic immunogold technique, we have demonstrated that only the pregnancy-associated (Pa) antigen, which carries a broadly shared antigenic determinant, is expressed on the placental surface in the rat, whereas the allele-specific classical transplantation antigens are not. Both types of antigens are, however, present in the cytoplasm of the basal trophoblast but completely absent from the labyrinthine trophoblast.
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15261.
A
A
Kanbour
T A
TA
Macpherson
H W
HW
Kunz
T J
TJ
Gill
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C038353:histocompatibility antigens RT, rat; C025625:pregnancy-specific antigen, sheep