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  • Title: Antigenic identification of cells in spiral artery trophoblastic invasion: validation of histologic studies by triple-antibody immunocytochemistry.
    Author: Labarrere CA, Faulk WP.
    Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol; 1994 Jul; 171(1):165-71. PubMed ID: 8030693.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Trophoblastic invasion of spiral arteries in the placental bed is essential for normal human placentation. Because the absence of these physiologic changes is associated with abnormal pregnancies, we developed a simple immunocytochemical approach that allows simultaneous study of three cell types involved in spiral artery changes (i.e., trophoblastic, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells). STUDY DESIGN: Spiral and uteroplacental arteries in the basal plate of 70 term placentas were studied simultaneously with antibodies to keratin to identify cytotrophoblasts, alpha-smooth muscle actin to identify vascular smooth muscle cells, and von Willebrand factor to identify endothelial cells in 15 normal placentas and 55 placentas from abnormal pregnancies. RESULTS: Normal term placentas showed keratin-positive, alpha-smooth muscle actin-negative and von Willebrand factor-negative uteroplacental arteries. Most (37/55) placentas from abnormal pregnancies had keratin-negative, alpha-smooth muscle actin and von Willebrand factor-positive spiral arteries. Spiral artery atherosclerosis was keratin negative, alpha-smooth muscle actin positive, and von Willebrand factor positive and was identified in 22 abnormal and 0 normal placentas. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous identification of three principal cell types involved in human placentation allowed qualitative and quantitative studies of placentas from normal and abnormal pregnancies that validated previous histologic investigations and provided a new approach to detect spiral arterial changes.
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