title: Expression of placenta growth factor mRNA in the rat placenta during mid-late pregnancy.
abstract: The placenta is an essential organ that synthesizes several growth and angiogenic factors for its own growth as well as fetal development. It is known that the placenta growth factor (PlGF)is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family and is critical for placental growth and fetal development. However, there is little information regarding the expression pattern and cellular localization of PlGF mRNA in rat placenta during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to define the distribution of PlGF mRNA in rat placenta at various gestations. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of PlGF mRNA increased as gestation advanced. Using in situ hybridization histochemistry, positive cells of PlGF mRNA were detected in chorionic villi. PlGF mRNA was expressed in the trophoblast cells and stroma cells surrounding the blood vessels within chorionic villi on day 13 and 15. Also, positive signals of PlGF mRNA were strongly detected in stroma cells of chorionic villi on day 17, 19, and 21. In particular, the density and number of positive signals of PlGF mRNA was significantly increased as gestation advanced. The expression pattern of PlGF mRNA in rat placenta during pregnancy demonstrates that PlGF plays a functional role for placental growth and fetal development during mid-late pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Wan Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Gyeong Jae
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chung Kil
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Phil Ok
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C000608038:Pgf protein, rat; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor