[Role of placental apoptosis in fetal growth restriction].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship of placental cellular apoptosis and pathophysiology of fetal growth restriction (FGR).


METHODS
Placental samples were obtained from 18 pregnancies complicated by FGR and 14 normal pregnancies. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electron microscopy were used to confirm the occurrence of apoptosis.


RESULTS
In FGR group the placental apoptosis rate was (n = 18) 12.1 per thousand, the average placental weight was (236 +/- 24) g, the average birth weight was (2,071 +/- 428) g; In normal group (n = 14), the placental apoptosis rate was 7.3 per thousand, the average placental weight was (354 +/- 63) g, the average birth weight was (3,411 +/- 588) g (P < 0.05). The incidence of apoptosis was significantly higher in placental samples from pregnancies with FGR compared with normal placental samples (P < 0.05). Under transmission election microscopy, apoptosis was obviously compact and the chromatins were formed as mass.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that apoptosis may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of FGR.
Liu
Yuan
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Gao
Peng
P
Xie
Yingbo
Y
Wang
Shuyun
S
Dai
Minsheng
M
Jiang
Sen
S
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy