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Reproductive Sciences
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor But Not Placental Growth Factor Promotes Trophoblast Syncytialization In Vitro

Ian P. Crocker, PhD

School of Human Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdomian.crocker{at}nottingham.ac.uk

Bryony K. Strachan, MRCOG

Gendie E. Lash, PhD

Suzanne Cooper, BS

Averil Y. Warren, MPhil

Philip N. Baker, MD

Development Group, School of Human Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, City Hospital, Nottingham, United Kingdom

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to determine the effect of epithelial growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and placental growth factor (PIGF) on the diferentiation of first-trimester and term cytotrophoblasts.

METHODS: The first-trimester trophoblasts were isolated from villous tissue obtained at suction termination (n = 5), and the term trophoblasts were isolated from placentas (n = 6) at elective cesarean. Cultured cells were stimulated with EGF, VEGF, or PIGF at 0.5, 5, and 50 ng/mL, in the presence or absence of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (10-4 M). Syncytialized trophoblasts were identified by immunostaining with antidesmosomal protein and anti-cytokeratin-7, whereas nuclei were counted in each syncytia using hematoxylin.

RESULTS: Without treatment, background levels of syncytialization were signficantly higher in term preparations than first-trimester cells. With VEGF and EGF, the number and size of syncytia increased signficantlyfor thefirst-trimester cytotrophoblasts (P < .05). Neither VEGF nor EGF had any effect on the syncytialization of cultured cells at term. Nitric oxide showed no involvement in syncytial induction, and PIGF had no effect on syncytialization of cytotrophoblasts, from either the first or third trimester.

CONCLUSION: Both EGF and VEGF appeared to enhance the in vitro syncytialization of first trimester cytotrophoblasts.

Key Words: Cytotrophoblast • syncytiotrophoblast • epidermal growth factor • vascular • endothelial growth factor • placental growth factor

Reproductive Sciences, Vol. 8, No. 6, 341-346 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/107155760100800606
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