title: Bidirectional communication between neural and cardiac cells in human amniotic fluid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether amniotic fluid cells contain cardiomyocyte- and neuron-like cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, cells from human amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for mRNA expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), vimentin and oxytocin (OT) receptor via RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry was also performed with MAP-2, OT receptor, vimentin and troponin I antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all samples, MAP-2, vimentin and mRNA expression were detectable. OT receptor was also detectable. The cells showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of neurogenic cells including MAP-2 and vimentin. The cells also showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of cardiac muscle such as troponin I and for OT receptors. This report also shows that atosiban (an OT antagonist) added to culture medium of amniotic fluid cells did not induce neurogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed concurrent development of cardiomyocyte- and neuron-like cells suggests that amniotic fluid contains progenitor cells and there is bidirectional communication between both cell types.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cells, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Alexandra Maternity Hospital, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. kstefanidis@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loutradis
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anastasiadou
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dinopoulou
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eleni
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arampatzi
authors.forename: Kalioppi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lekka
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesogitis
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D014746:Vimentin; C047046:atosiban; D014668:Vasotocin