title: The immunolocalization of Bcl-2 in human term placenta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the immunolocalization of the Bcl-2 protein in formalin-fixed placental tissue collected from uncomplicated term pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 human term placentas of 38-41 weeks' gestation, 11 obtained from spontaneous deliveries and eight from elective caesarean sections prior to labour were included. Sections were incubated with an antibody to the Bcl-2 protein and light microscopy was used to evaluate Bcl-2 staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein was expressed diffusely throughout the cytoplasm of the syncytiotrophoblast with much less intensive staining in cytotrophoblast and mesenchymal cells. Bcl-2 expression was reduced or lost in areas of syncytial sprouts. No differences in Bcl-2 staining were observed between placentas obtained after spontaneous deliveries and those collected before the onset of labour after elective caesarean section.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein in human term placenta does not seem to be influenced by parturition. Additionally, Bcl-2 expression might be an important factor in the regulation of apoptosis in the human trophoblast and thus in maintaining placental function during gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Axt-Fliedner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kordina
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wasemann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mink
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reitnauer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2