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Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation
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Expression of Human Placental G Proteins During Pregnancy

A. Petit, PhD

P. Geoffroy, MSc

P Bessette, MD

J. Prévost, MSc

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Montréal, Ste-Justine Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada

S. Bélisle, MD, MSc

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Montreal, Research Center, Ste-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3T 1C5

Objective: Regulatory guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) play key roles in the stimulus-response coupling of many important biological systems. Recent studies from our laboratory suggest a functional role for many G proteins in the human placenta. However, the expression of these proteins has not yet been reported. Therefore, the aims of this investigation were to identify the expression of placental G protein alpha subunits in human placenta, and to study their level of variation during pregnancy.

Methods: Western and Northern blot analyses were performed on membrane protein and mRNA preparations, respectively, of human placentas from the first (7-11 weeks), second (16-19 weeks), and third (term) trimesters.

Results: The autoradiographs of both proteins and mRNA showed differential expression of placental G proteins during pregnancy. Thus, the relative levels of G{alpha}i2 and G{alpha}i3 subunits were highest during the first trimester, whereas to differences were observed between second-trimester and term placentas for both subunits. The levels of placental G{alpha}o and G{alpha}s subunits stayed relatively stable during pregnancy.

Conclusion: The demonstration of human placental G{alpha} protein expression during pregnancy provides new insight into the components of the signal transduction machinery within trophoblast. However, the physiologic significance of the variations of placental G{alpha}i protein expression during pregnancy remains to be investigated.

Key Words: Placenta • G protein expression • pregnancy

Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Vol. 2, No. 5, 678-685 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/107155769500200503
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