Oxytocin receptor- and Oct-4-expressing cells in human amniotic fluid.
OBJECTIVE
The present clinical and molecular study aimed at investigating the presence of the genes encoding oxytocin receptor (OT-R) and Oct-4 in human amniotic fluid cells.


METHODS
Amniotic fluid samples were obtained from amniocentesis. Cells from human amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for mRNA expression of OT-R and Oct-4 via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunocytochemistry was also performed with OT-R and Oct-4 antibodies.


RESULTS
RT-PCR from 10 independent amniocentesis samples demonstrated the expression of OT-R and Oct-4 mRNA. The cells also showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of OT-R and Oct-4.


CONCLUSIONS
OT-R and Oct-4 are expressed in human amniotic fluid cells. The role of oxytocin in the physiology and pathophysiology of amniotic fluid cells remains to be settled.
Stefanidis
Konstantinos
K
Laboratory of Stem Cells, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Alexandra Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece. konstef@hol.gr
Loutradis
Dimitris
D
Anastasiadou
Vasiliki
V
Bletsa
Ritsa
R
Kiapekou
Erasmia
E
Drakakis
Peter
P
Beretsos
Panos
P
Elenis
Evangelia
E
Mesogitis
Spiros
S
Antsaklis
Aris
A
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin