Placental vascularization and apoptosis in Type-1 and gestational DM.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to analyze the alteration in vascularization and apoptosis in the placentas of patients with Type 1 or gestational diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Placental samples drawn from normal (n = 6), GDM (n = 6), and Type 1 DM (n = 6) pregnancies were rinsed in PBS and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. The obtained sections were examined by both light and electron microscopy. Subsequently, immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate apoptosis and vascularization with caspase-9 and VEGF antibodies.


RESULTS
Capillary structures in various sizes, both in free and in stem villi, were observed to be denser in the GDM group than in the control and Type-1 DM groups, utilizing electron microscopy. Similarly, when compared with Type-1 DM and controls, a decreased amount of microvilli with more irregularity and blunting on the villus surface was detected. GDM group showed increased immunoreactivity in capillaries of stem villi, free villi, and endothelial cells when compared with Type-1 DM and control groups. Regarding the immunohistochemical staining with VEGF, Type-1 DM, and GDM groups showed stronger immunoreactivity than the control group, especially in syncytiotrophoblastic cell nuclei and stromal cell nuclei. However, there was no significant difference between Type-1 DM and GDM groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Type-1 DM and GDM placentas showed increased villous stromal capillarization, increased immunoreactivity with VEGF and caspase-9, and increased syncytial nodes, which may develop secondary to placental hypoxia-ischemia. However, more participants are needed to confirm these conclusions.
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , İzmir University , İzmir , Turkey.
Süleyman
S
Akarsu
b Department of Cytology , Histology and Embryology, Azerbaijan Medical University , Baku , Azerbaijan.
Mahmud
M
Bagirzade
c Department of Histology and Embryology , Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University , Gazi , Turkey , and.
Suna
S
Omeroglu
d Department of Perinatology , Kayseri Research and Training Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey.
Barıs
B
Büke
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
Caspase-9; VEGF; diabetes mellitus; placenta