Apoptosis in the Chorion Laeve of Term Patients WithHistologic Chorioamnionitis

[摘要] Objective:The balance between cell survival and cell death (apoptosis) is critical during development and mayaffect organ function. Apoptosis is accelerated in the presence of infection and inflammation in a variety of organsystems. The objective of this investigation was to determine if apoptosis was increased in the chorion laeve ofterm patients with and without histologic chorioamnionitis.Methods:Records of placental pathology were reviewed with respect to the presence/absence of histologicchorioamnionitis. Sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded fetal membrane rolls were stained using theTUNEL method. The proportion of apoptotic nuclei was calculated in seven high-powered fields/section. Thosewith and without histologic chorioamnionitis were compared. Datawere analyzed using the Mann—Whitney U test,with significance defined asp< 0.05.Results:There was no significant difference in demographic or clinical characteristics between the two groups.The chorion laeve from subjects with histologic chorioamnionitis had significantly more apoptotic nuclei whencompared to those without chorioamnionitis (11.2% vs. 5%,p= 0.02).Conclusion:Apoptosis ismore prevalent in the chorion laeve of fetal membranes with histologic chorioamnionitis.This finding suggests that infection/inflammation may impact cell survivalwithin fetal membranes. The implicationsof these findings warrant further investigation.

[学科分类] 妇产科学