Immunohistochemical detection of apoptosis in the human term and post-term placenta.
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of apoptosis in human term and post-term placenta and to determine its presence in different areas of placentas of uncomplicated pregnancies.


METHODS
A total of 15 placentas, 8 obtained from spontaneous deliveries and elective caesarean sections at term (37-41 weeks of pregnancy) and 7 from spontaneous deliveries and elective caesarean sections post-term (> 41 weeks of pregnancy) were included in this study. Apoptosis was identified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling method (TUNEL, Boehringer, Mannheim, Germany) in paraffin-embedded sections.


RESULTS
Apoptosis was predominantly detected in trophoblast and stromal tissue. There were no significant differences in the incidence of apoptosis in different parts of placental tissue. A significant increase of apoptosis was seen in both trophoblast and stromal cells of post-term placentas (p < 0.05; p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Apoptosis could be detected in the human term and post-term placenta, with increasing incidence in post-term placental tissue, suggesting a possible role of apoptosis in the mechanism of parturition and placental senescence.
Axt
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Germany.
Meyberg
R
R
Mink
D
D
Wasemann
C
C
Reitnauer
K
K
Schmidt
W
W
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy