title: [Effects of mifepristone on ultrastructure of placental Hofbauer cells in early human pregnancy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of mifepristone on the ultrastructure of Hofbauer cells in human early pregnant placenta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty 6 - 9 week pregnant women with indications of pregnancy termination were recruited and randomly assigned to mifepristone group(n = 10) and D & C group (n = 10). Villi were collected and studied with transmission electron microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, the ultrastructure of Hofbauer cells of mifepristone group showed the following changes: the cells were markedly edematous. The number of cytoplasmic processes of Hofbauer cells deceased obviously. In the cytoplasm of Hofbauer cells, the size of vacuoles enlarged and of mitochondria minimized. Rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex were under-developed. Lysosomes were rare. The nuclei enlarged and showed irregular shape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mifepristone may change the phagocytosis' water and electrolyte transportation and immunological function of Hofbauer cells by influencing the ultrastructure of the Hofbauer cells. Therefore it can influence the development of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Zi-Neng
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D015735:Mifepristone; D011374:Progesterone