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Am J Perinatol 2006; 23(4): 255-264
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939562
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Its Receptors, and the Tie Receptors in the Placental Bed of Women with Preeclampsia, Diabetes, and Intrauterine Growth Retardation

Piia Vuorela1 , Erja Halmesmäki1
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, Finland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
19 April 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Placental bed vascular function is compromised in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and maternal diabetes mellitus (DM). We performed an immunohistochemical analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its receptors (VEGFR) -1 and -2, and the Tie-1 and -2 receptors in cryostat tissue sections of the placental bed from healthy women (n = 5) and women with PE (n = 5), IUGR (n = 5), and DM (n = 5). VEGF immunoreactivity was stable between the study groups. VEGFR-1 immunoreactivity in the myometrial vascular smooth muscle cells was strongest in the controls. In the myometrial cells, the strongest VEGFR-2 immunoreactivity was seen in women with IUGR. In the decidual vascular endothelial cells, the strongest Tie-1 immunoreactivity was observed in healthy women and in those with DM. Alterations in the placental bed expression of VEGFR-1, VEGFR -2, and Tie-1, but not of VEGF and Tie-2, may be associated with PE, IUGR, or DM.

KEYWORDS

Preeclampsia - placental bed - vascular endothelial growth factor

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Piia VuorelaM.D. Ph.D. 

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital

Biomedicum Helsinki, PL 700, 00029 HUS, Finland

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