title: Low expression of progesterone receptor A in intermediate trophoblast of miscarriages.
abstract: To examine the potential differences in the expression of Progesterone Receptor A and Estrogen Receptor A in intermediate trophoblastic cells at the implantation site in elective abortions and miscarriages by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  
  Twenty two (22) samples of miscarriages and eighteen (18) samples of elective abortions were obtained during gestational weeks 6 to 12. Monoclonal antibodies against Cytokeratin 7 and prolactin were used to help discriminate between trophoblastic and decidual cells at the feto-maternal interface on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. Samples were then stained with ERA and PRA antibodies. Nuclear expression was considered positive. Staining intensity was measured according to a 4 grade scale. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using the Mann-Whitney test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test.
  
  
  
  PRA expression in intermediate trophoblastic cells was significantly higher in elective abortions (control group) compared to miscarriages. ERA expression was uniformly negative in both groups.
  
  
  
  PRA expression is significantly lower in intermediate trophoblastic cells of miscarriages compared to elective abortion pregnancies. Although this could be solely a result of a secondary event, it is still an important finding in the effort to unravel the complex molecular pathobiology of spontaneous abortions.
authors: Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Theodora
authors: T
authors: Papamitsou
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Chatzistamatiou
authors: Danai
authors: D
authors: Grammatikopoulou
authors: Kyriaki
authors: K
authors: Papadopoulou
authors: Sotirios
authors: S
authors: Lakis
authors: Zinon
authors: Z
authors: Economou
authors: Chrisi
authors: C
authors: Papadopoulou
authors: Antonia
authors: A
authors: Sioga
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D053552:Keratin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D053552:Keratin-7; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C101118:progesterone receptor A; D011388:Prolactin