The disappearance of CD34-positive and alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive stromal cells associated with human intra-uterine and tubal pregnancies.
In order to elucidate the change in alpha-smooth muscle actin (ASMA)-positive and CD34-positive stromal cells associated with pregnancy, we examined endometrial and Fallopian tube tissues from 40 patients including normal endometrium (n=10), intra-uterine pregnancy (n=10), normal Fallopian tube (n=10), and tubal pregnancy (n=10), using immunohistochemistry. In normal endometrium, only a few ASMA-positive cells were focally observed. Additionally, a wide range of CD34-positive stromal cell abundance was observed. In normal Fallopian tube mucosa, a small to moderate number of both ASMA-positive and CD34-positive stromal cells was observed. Neither ASMA-positive nor CD34-positive stromal cells were observed anywhere in the decidual stroma during both intra-uterine and tubal pregnancies. Likewise, a varying abundance of ASMA-positive cells but no CD34-positive stromal cells were observed at the fetal side during both intra-uterine and tubal pregnancies. In conclusion, the disappearance of CD34-positive and ASMA-positive stromal cells may be an indicator of decidualisation induced change in the stroma during both intra-uterine and tubal pregnancies. ASMA-positive stromal cells at the fetal side associated with pregnancy may play a role in the production of villous extracellular matrix or regulation of blood flow.
Kuroda
N
N
Department of Pathology, Program of Bioregulation and Genetics, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan. nkuroda@med.kochi-u.ac.jp
Miyazaki
E
E
Hayashi
Y
Y
Toi
M
M
Hiroi
M
M
Enzan
H
H
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
D000199:Actins; D018952:Antigens, CD34