title: Prostaglandin E2 synthase in syncytiotrophoblastic vesicles found in the placental intervillous space.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to confirm microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase (mPGES) in the vesicles found in the intervillous space.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining for mPGES was conducted to confirm this enzyme in vesicles by using fresh sections of mature placentas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staining for mPGES was prominent in vesicles separating from syncytiotrophoblast into the intervillous space. Syncytiotrophoblast was partly positive or negative for mPGES. Vesicles showed a tendency to degenerate with a weakly positive or negative reaction for mPGES. Extravillous cytotrophoblast was strongly positive for mPGES in the basal plate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vesicles containing mPGES suggest the formation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This enzyme could be concentrated in vesicles by a different secretory mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. tofu@bea.hi-ho.ne.jp
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujikura
authors.forename: Makio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukai
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases