Cytologic localization of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in developing human placenta varies over the course of pregnancy

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 165; no. 5 Pt 1; p. 1377
• Main Authors: Ladines-Llave, C A, Maruo, T, Manalo, A S, Mochizuki, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.1991
• Subjects: Epidermal Growth Factor - analysis; ErbB Receptors - analysis; Gestational Age; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Placenta - chemistry; Trophoblasts - metabolism
• ISSN: 0002-9378
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(91)90372-X

Cytologic localization of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in developing human placenta was analyzed by avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase techniques with a polyclonal antibody to epidermal growth factor and a monoclonal antibody to its receptor. In 4- to 5-week placenta, epidermal growth factor and its receptor were found to be almost exclusively localized to cytotrophoblasts, whereas in 6- to 12-week placentas they were predominantly localized to syncytiotrophoblasts. These findings suggest that both are initially expressed in cytotrophoblasts in very early placenta before 6 weeks' gestation and thereafter expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts in 6- to 12-week placentas. Their simultaneous expression in the cytotrophoblast of 4- to 5-week placentas and in the syncytiotrophoblast of 6- to 12-week placentas implies that epidermal growth factor may act in an autocrine manner in first-trimester placentas. By contrast, in second- and third-trimester placentas, epidermal growth factor was mainly localized to cytotrophoblasts, whereas its receptor was predominantly localized to syncytiotrophoblasts. These findings imply that epidermal growth factor may act in a paracrine fashion in second- and third-trimester placentas. The dynamic change in cytologic localization of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor in developing human placentas may reflect the change in a possible role of epidermal growth factor in the course of fetoplacental development.