Evaluation of placental angiotensin type 1 receptors in women with hypertension during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine and compare the localization and immunoreactivity of the angiotensin type-1 receptor (AT1R) in human placental tissue in patients with pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia with and without intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the localization of the AT1R in human placental tissue. Semiquantitative immunohistochemical H-score values for each placental cell type were calculated.


RESULTS
Elevated H-score index values for decidual cells, syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast in pre-eclamptic patients were found to be higher in comparison with values in the control group. Decreased H-score index values for syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast were found in patients with pregnancy complicated by IUGR in the course of pre-eclampsia.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained in this study point out the significant role of the AT1R and suggest that normal AT1R activity is of fundamental significance for the normal course of pregnancy and proper fetal growth.
Laskowska
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, University School of Medicine in Lublin, Poland.
Laskowska
K
K
Vinson
Gp
G
Leszczyńska-Gorzelak
B
B
Oleszczuk
J
J
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1