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.
Laboratory of Stem Cells, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Alexandra Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece. konstef@hol.gr
Konstantinos
K
Stefanidis
Dimitris
D
Loutradis
Vasiliki
V
Anastasiadou
Ritsa
R
Bletsa
Erasmia
E
Kiapekou
Peter
P
Drakakis
Panos
P
Beretsos
Evangelia
E
Elenis
Spiros
S
Mesogitis
Aris
A
Antsaklis
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