Recent studies have demonstrated that epidermal growth factor(EGF) and its receptor play an important role in organogenesis. We have studied the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) by EGFR-mRNA in situ hybridization method in the
early-, mid-, and late trimester placentas and deciduas. In the cytotrophoblast EGFR was moderately expressed in the early-, and mid trimester, and weakly expressed in the late trimester. In contrast, in the syncytiotrophoblast EGFR was weakly
expressed
in the early trimester, and moderately to intensely expressed in the mid-, and late trimester. And in decidua, EGFR was moderately expressed in the early-, mid-, and late trimester.
These findings suggest that EGFR may have an important role in trophoblast and decidua during gestation.
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