Antiphosphatidylserine antibodies affect rat yolk sacs in culture: a mechanism for fetal loss in antiphospholipid syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
A variety of reproductive impairments have been reported in the context of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). APS is associated with the presence of antibodies to negatively charged phospholipids that may affect the outcome of pregnancy.


METHODS
Rat embryos were cultured within their yolk sacs. The effects of two antiphosphatidylserine monoclonal aPS antibodies (HL5B, RR7F) regarding their influence on growth and apoptotic events of the yolk sacs, as well as on growth and the morphology of the embryos, were studied.


RESULTS
Exposure of rat embryos and their yolk sacs to aPS inhibited yolk sac growth. Moreover, increased number of apoptotic events of giant cells in the aPS-exposed ectoplacental cone was found in comparison with control IgG-exposed giant cells (P < 0.05). No significant damage was observed in the embryos.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that aPS affect growth and apoptosis of rat ectoplacental cone.
Matalon
Shelly Tartakover
ST
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Teratology, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem.
Shoenfeld
Yehuda
Y
Blank
Miri
M
Yacobi
Sarah
S
von Landenberg
Philipp
P
Ornoy
Asher
A
D000818:Animals; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid