[Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA in human placenta].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the localization and type of nitric oxide synthase in human placenta.


METHODS
By polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. The eNOS mRNA expression was observed in 10 cases of human normal term placenta and cord.


RESULTS
In human normal term placenta, positive staining of eNOS was evident in the syncytiotrophoblast and the endothelium of umbilical artery and vein, positive staining also presented in the endothelium of stem villous vessels, but it was absent in the endothelium of terminal villous capillary.


CONCLUSIONS
eNOS is present in syncytiotrophoblast and endothelium of stem villi vessels, and it can synthesize nitric oxide which results in the increase of nitric oxide in pregnancy.
304th Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100037.
W
W
Shen
M
M
Yang
Y
Y
Lu
D000328:Adult; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III