title: Fetal sex-related dysregulation in testosterone production and their receptor expression in the human placenta with preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of fetal sex on aromatase and androgen receptor (AR) expression in the placenta of normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placentae from preeclamptic (five female and six male fetuses) and healthy pregnancies (seven female and seven male fetuses) were examined by immunofluorescence, western blotting and quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placental AR levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in placentae of both male and female fetuses compared with their respective sexes in normal pregnancies. The placental aromatase levels varied depending on fetal sex. If the fetus was female, aromatase levels were substantially higher (P<0.05) in preeclamptic than in normal placentae. If the fetus was male, the aromatase levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) in preeclamptic than in normal placentae. Placental aromatase levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in male- than in female-bearing normal placentae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dysregulation in androgen production and signaling in preeclamptic placentae may contribute to placental abnormalities, increasing the frequency of maternal-fetal complications associated with preeclampsia.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. kusathish@utmb.edu
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Sathishkumar
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Balakrishnan
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Chinnathambi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Chauhan
authors: G D V
authors: GD
authors: Hankins
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Yallampalli
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone