• R Axt, A C Kordina, R Meyberg, K Reitnauer, D Mink, and W Schmidt.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Germany.
• Clin Exp Obstet Gyn. 1999 Jan 1; 26 (3-4): 195-8.

ObjectiveTo investigate the extent of apoptosis within the human placenta in tissues from normotensive term pregnancies and those complicated by intrauterine growth-restriction (IUGR).MethodsA total of 18 placentas, 10 obtained from uncomplicated term gestations and 8 from intrauterine growth restricted fetuses were included in this study. Apoptosis was identified using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triophosphate nick end-labeling technique (TUNEL, Boehringer, Mannheim, Germany) in paraffin-embedded sections.ResultsApoptosis was predominantly detected in the villous trophoblast and stromal tissue. There were no differences in the incidence of apoptosis in different parts of the same placenta. The apoptotic index in placental tissue from uncomplicated pregnancies was 0.93 +/- 0.12. Significantly more apoptotic nuclei were detected in the placental tissue from IUGR gestation (4.2 +/- 2.96, p < 0.01).ConclusionThese results might point toward a possible role of apoptosis in the pathophysiology of intrauterine growth-restriction.

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