title: Immunohistochemical expression of oncological proliferation markers in the hearts of rats during normal pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pregnancy is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy that is potentially accounted for by cardiomyocyte proliferation, although no such evidence is currently available. This study investigates if the left ventricular mass (LVM) increase during pregnancy implies cell hyperplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In nonpregnant and late-pregnant rats, cardiac function and LVM were evaluated by MRI, and cardiomyocyte dimensions and proliferations were assessed quantitatively by morphometric analysis and immunohistochemistry using oncological markers (Ki67 and MCM2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In late-pregnant rats, LVM and cardiomyocyte area were greater. No mitotic figures were found nor was there any significant difference between groups in Ki67 expression. MCM2 expression was related to LVM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During pregnancy, rat cardiomyocytes undergo hypertrophy but not hyperplasia; the expression of MCM2, related to LVM, suggests it could be a marker of protein synthesis. The application of oncological markers to physiological contexts may provide insight into their role within the cell cycle.
authors: Department of Clinical Science & Community Health, Laboratory of Clinical Informatics & Cardiovascular Imaging, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy. michele.ciulla@unimi.it
authors: Michele M
authors: MM
authors: Ciulla
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Acquistapace
authors: Gianluca L
authors: GL
authors: Perrucci
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Nicolini
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Toffetti
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Braidotti
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Ferrero
authors: Ileana
authors: I
authors: Zucca
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Aquino
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Busca
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Magrini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins