Study on increased apoptosis in placental tissue from gestations complicated by PIH

    WANG Lin, XIN Xiaoª²Yan, WANG Zhe, FENG Jiª²Liang

    1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, 2Department of Pathology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate a possible role of apoptosis in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension syndrome). METHODS: Placental samples were obtained from 16 uncomplicated thirdª²trimester pregnancies and from 16 cases of PIH. Light microscopy, electron microscopy and TUNEL were used to identify apoptosis. Light microscopy was used to quantify their incidence of apoptosis. Electron microscopy was used to confirm the occurrence of apoptosis. RESULTS: Apoptosis was conclusively demonstrated within human thirdª²trimester placental tissue. Medians and interquartile ranges of normal placenta (n=16) were 0.12% (0.08%-0.19%) and medians and interquartile ranges of PIH group (n=16) were 0.37% (0.15%-0.49%). In comparison to that of normal placentas, the incidence of apoptosis was higher in placentas from gestations complicated by PIH (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Placental apoptosis increases significantly in PIH and it may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of this syndrome. ......