title: The role of apoptosis on trophoblast cell invasion in the placental bed of normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Placental development depends on careful coordination of trophoblast proliferation and apoptosis; however, the synchrony of its effect on trophoblast invasion is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between trophoblast apoptosis and proliferation in placental bed tissue of preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial sections from archived placental bed biopsies of 12 normotensive (group 1) and 12 preeclamptic (group 2) were immunolabeled with a rabbit anti-Ki67 antibody, a mouse anti-cytokeratin 18 and its neo-epitope, and a monoclonal cytodeath M30 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The immunoexpression of Ki67 for all trophoblast cell subpopulations within the myometrium was non-reactive in both study groups. Smooth muscle cells of the microvasculature reflected a moderate degree of proliferation in both groups. Morphometric image analysis of the wall of the spiral artery revealed a mean area of 31,1729 ± 51,180 µm(2) compared to 35,795 ± 8045 µm(2) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. An elevation of intramural trophoblast was evident within the spiral artery of group 1 (13%). Comparative analyses of M30 distribution on corresponding serial sections were 0.06% versus 0% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean field area percentage of interstitial trophoblast invasion was 10.79% versus 2.87% with corresponding areas of apoptosis been 0.8 % versus 1.9 % in groups 1 and 2, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates an increased trophoblast apoptosis in placental bed of preeclamptic compared to normotensive pregnancies with concurrent absence of proliferation at term.
authors.affiliation: Optics and Imaging Centre, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. naickera@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: Thajasvarie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naicker
authors.forename: Enbavani
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dorsamy
authors.forename: Duran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramsuran
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Jagidesa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moodley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult