title: The human placenta from heavy smokers: evaluation of vasoactive peptides by immunohistochemistry.
abstract: The study aimed to demonstrate the expression of nitric oxide converting enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS), and endothelin-1 (Et-1) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded placental tissue, and to demonstrate a difference in staining intensity between heavy smokers and non-smokers. Term placentas from pregnancies from otherwise healthy women smoking 15 or more cigarettes per day (heavy smokers) and term placentas from a matching group of non-smokers were included. The antibodies for Et-1 and e-NOS are recommended for cryostat sections. We evaluated the antibodies on paraffin-embedded tissue combined with the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Et-1 and e-NOS were demonstrated in the placental vasculature, the trophoblast, and the amnion. A blinded comparative study showed no reproducible significant differences in the staining intensity of the antigen-antibody reaction to Et-1 and e-NOS between the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark. hv.clausen@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: L Grupe
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bzorek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase