Decreased type V collagen expression in human decidual tissues of spontaneous abortion during early pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To provide some insight into the aetiology of spontaneous abortion, the contents of type V collagen was investigated in human decidual tissues in spontaneous abortion and normal pregnancy.


METHODS
Collagens were extracted from decidual tissues in spontaneous abortion (n = 19) and normal pregnancy (n = 25). The different types of collagen alpha chains were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), stained with Coomassie brilliant blue, and measured by densitometry. The relative amounts of the alpha 1 (III) and alpha 1 (V) chains were calculated by dividing the band intensities of the alpha 1 (III) and alpha 1 (V) chains by that of the alpha 1 (I) chain.


RESULTS
The ratio of the alpha 1 (V) chain to that of the alpha 1 (I) chain in decidual tissues in spontaneous abortion was significantly lower than that found in normal pregnancy (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that type V collagen might play an important role in the maintenance of pregnancy and that decreased expression of this collagen could be associated with spontaneous abortion.
Iwahashi
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wakayama Medical College, Japan.
Nakano
R
R
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D003656:Decidua / Q000737:chemistry*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First
D003094:Collagen