Intrauterine growth restriction and placental angiogenesis.
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.
Barut
Figen
F
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey. figenbarut@yahoo.com
Barut
Aykut
A
Gun
Banu Dogan
BD
Kandemir
Nilufer Onak
NO
Harma
Mehmet Ibrahim
MI
Harma
Muge
M
Aktunc
Erol
E
Ozdamar
Sukru Oguz
SO
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
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