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KMID : 0376219860230030429
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Chonnam Medical Journal
1986 Volume.23 No. 3 p.429 ~ p.444
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Immunohistochemical and Immunocytochemical Studies on the Placental Lactogen-Producing Cells in Human Chorionic Villi
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Abstract
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Maternal serum levels of human placental lactogen (hPL) are regarded to reflect the trophoblastic mass because it is well known that hPL is synthesized and secreted by the syncytiotrophoblasts. Hence, serum hPL levels are measured to predict fetal well-being and growth retardation. However, hPL positivity of the syncytiotrophoblasts in various gestational periods and ultrastructural location of hPL are scarcely reported. In this paper, hPL-producing cells in human placental tissue of 14 cases at various gestational periods (6 weeks to full-term) were examined with unconjugated immunoperoxidase staining at light and electron microscopic levels. The results were as follows.
1. Throughout the gestational periods, hPL-positive reaction was observed in the cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblasts. Cytotrophoblasts, endothelial cells and other cells in the villous stroma as well as the cells of maternal origin gave negative reaction. Syncytial knots, observed in the placentae of the full-term, showed strong positive reaction whereas `fibrinoid´ material showed negative reaction.
2. In the first trimester, a considerable portion of the chorionic villi were coverd by the hPL-negative syncytiotrophoblasts. As the pregnancy progressed, more uniform and stronger positive reaction for hPL were observed, but the hPL-negative syncytiotrophoblasts were observed still in the chronic villi of the second trimester. Most syncytiotrophoblasts in the full-term were strongly positive for hPL.
3. hPL-positive reaction products were present mainly in the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, in some vesicles in the cytoplasm facing the intervillous spaces, and along the outer nuclear membrane of the syncytiotrophoblasts. Positive reaction along the cell membrane of the syncytiotrophoblasts was not observed.
These results indicate that maternal serum levels of hPL may be dependent on not only the trophoblastic mass but also the positivity of the syncytiotrophoblasts. Also considered is that hPL may display in the biological effects systemically rather than locally in the placental tissue.
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