Influence of maternal diabetes on placental fibroblast growth factor-2 expression, proliferation, and apoptosis.
OBJECTIVE
Type I diabetes mellitus during pregnancy is associated with dysregulation of the oxygen and glucose metabolic pathways, both of which affect placental villous growth and function. Alteration of placental development in women with diabetes may contribute to the increased risk of preeclampsia, macrosomia, or fetal growth restriction.


METHODS
To evaluate placental growth in the setting of maternal diabetes, immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expression, cell proliferation (Ki67), and apoptosis (Apo-Tag) in placentas from diabetic and nondiabetic patients.


RESULTS
Immunostaining for FGF-2 in placentas from diabetic women demonstrated an increase in intensity within the villous stroma and syncytiotrophoblast (P<.05). Associated with these changes in FGF-2 expression, placentas from diabetic women showed no change in villous mitotic activity but did show decreased stromal compartment apoptosis. When expressed as a ratio of Ki67-positive:Apo-Tag-positive nuclei as an index of relative cell turnover, the stromal compartment showed a significant trend towards decreased nuclei turnover (P<.05), suggesting relative tissue growth in diabetic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased FGF-2 expression and decreased stromal cell compartment turnover in the diabetic placenta might be a compensatory mechanism in response to the altered physiologic milieu of maternal diabetes on placental function.
Burleigh
D W
DW
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Stewart
K
K
Grindle
K M
KM
Kay
H H
HH
Golos
T G
TG
D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2