Expression of Bcl-2 and p53 at the fetal-maternal interface of rhesus monkey.
To study the apoptosis and its mechanism at the fetal-maternal interface of early gestation, localization of apoptotic cells in the implantation sites of the rhesus monkey on day 17, 19, 28 and 34 of pregnancy were first examine by using the TUNEL technique. The expression of Ki67, a molecular marker of proliferating cells, and two apoptotic proteins, B cell lymphoma/leukaemia-2 (Bcl-2) and P53, were then studied by immunohistochemistry. Apoptotic nuclei were observed mainly in the syncytiotrophoblast. Ki67 was confined almost exclusively to cytotrophoblasts. The localization of Bcl-2 protein follows that of the apoptotic nuclei and its expression level increased as the development of the placenta progressed on. P53 was detected to some extent in cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblast covering the basal feet of the anchoring villi during the late stage of placentation. Based on these observations, it might be suggested that Bcl-2 could be possible to play an interesting role in limiting degree of nuclear degradation and sustaining cell survival in the multi-nucleated syncytiotrophoblast cells during early pregnancy, and P53 could also be essential in regulating the trophoblastic homeostasis by controlling its proliferation or apoptosis.
Wei
Peng
P
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China. liuyx@panda.ioz.ac.cn
Jin
Xuan
X
Zhang
Xue-Sen
XS
Hu
Zhao-Yuan
ZY
Han
Chun-Sheng
CS
Liu
Yi-Xun
YX
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006706:Homeostasis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53