title: Autophagy in term normal human placentas.
abstract: Autophagy is an inducible catabolic process that responds to environment and is essential for cell survival during stress, starvation and hypoxia. Its function in the human placenta it is not yet understood. We collected 14 placentas: 7 at vaginal delivery and 7 at elective caesarean section after uneventful term pregnancies. The presence of autophagy was assessed in different placental areas by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. We found that autophagy is significantly higher in placentas obtained from cesarean section than in those from vaginal delivery. Moreover there is a significant inverse relationship between autophagy and umbilical arterial glucose concentration.
authors: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, San Paolo Hospital Medical School, University of Milano, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Signorelli
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Avagliano
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Virgili
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Gagliostro
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Doi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Braidotti
authors: G P
authors: GP
authors: Bulfamante
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ghidoni
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Marconi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy