title: Intrauterine growth restriction and placental angiogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are factors that take part in placental angiogenesis. They are highly expressed during embryonic and fetal development, especially in the first trimester. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of placental angiogenesis in the development of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by comparing the levels of expression of VEGF-A, b-FGF, and eNOS in normal-term pregnancy and IUGR placentas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of VEGF-A, b-FGF, and eNOS was studied using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method in placental tissues diagnosed as normal (n = 55) and IUGR (n = 55). Results were evaluated in a semi-quantitative manner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of all the markers was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, extravillous trophoblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, chorionic villous stromal cells, and villous vascular endothelial cells of the IUGR placentas when compared with those collected from normal-term pregnancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased expression of VEGF-A, b-FGF, and eNOS may be the result of inadequate uteroplacental perfusion, supporting the proposal that abnormal angiogenesis plays a role in the pathophysiology of IUGR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey. figenbarut@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barut
authors.forename: Aykut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barut
authors.forename: Banu Dogan
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gun
authors.forename: Nilufer Onak
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Kandemir
authors.forename: Mehmet Ibrahim
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Harma
authors.forename: Muge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harma
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktunc
authors.forename: Sukru Oguz
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ozdamar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000032:analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III