title: Dystroglycan in human fetal membranes decreases in later gestation and with spontaneous membrane rupture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The transmembrane protein dystroglycan (DG) is known to anchor the cell membrane to the extracellular matrix, and is susceptible to cleavage by matrix metalloproteinases. This study tested the hypothesis that changes in DG abundance in fetal membranes (FM) occur late in gestation, with spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM), and during labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  FM were collected from a prospective cohort consisting of four groups of patients (term labor, term unlabored, preterm labor, and preterm unlabored). FM were subjected to immunohistochemical staining using antibodies specific for α- and β-DG subunits, and staining intensity was graded by a blinded pathologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  α- and β-DG staining was significantly decreased at term and after SROM (p < 0.05), but not in the presence of labor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased DG intensity was seen in FM of patients at term and with SROM, but no change was observed with labor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex., USA.
authors.forename: Regan N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Theiler
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Shaleen K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Theiler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049030:Dystroglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D049030:Dystroglycans