Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2001 Oct;44(10):1804-1811.

Expression of Estrogen Receptor and Telomerase Activity in Chorionic Villi and Decidua of Early Human Gestation

• Kim SK
• Jung YN
• Park KH
• Chung HC
• Chang YK
• Kwon JY
• Kim JY
• Bai SW
• Park KH
• Cho DJ
• Song CH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there is any differences between normal pregnancy (NP) and spontaneous abortion (SAB) regarding estrogen receptor (ER) expression and telomerase activity (TA) in the chorionic villi and decidual tissues.
METHODS
Chorionic villi and decidual tissues were obtained between 6 and 9 weeks' gestation from 14 patients with SAB and 17 normal pregnant women who have undergone an elective abortion. All tissue samples were assayed for ER with enzyme immunoassay and also TA was analysed using telomeric repeat amplication protocol.
RESULTS
A significant decrease in ER expression (2.81+/-2.77 fmol/mg of protein; p<.001) was demonstrated in SAB group compared to that of NP group (4.56+/-1.85 fmol/mg) in decidua. However, no significant difference in ER expression in chorionic villi was found between the two groups. SAB group showed significantly lower levels of TA than that of NP group in both chorionic villi (21.4% vs. 82.4%; p=.002) and deciduas (7.1% vs. 52.9%; p=.009).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that decreased level of ER expression in deciduas might cause decidual senescence and eventually, spontaneous abortion.

Keyword

Spontaneous abortion; Estrogen receptor; Telomerase activity

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Spontaneous
Aging
Chorion*
Chorionic Villi*
Decidua*
Estrogens*
Female
Humans*
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women
Telomerase*
Estrogens
Telomerase