TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidermal growth factor and its receptor in human implantation trophoblast
T2 - Immunohistochemical evidence for autocrine/paracrine function
AU - Hofmann, Glen E.
AU - Drews, Michael R.
AU - Scott, Richard T.
AU - Navot, Daniel
AU - Heller, Debra
AU - Deligdisch, Liana
PY - 1992/5
Y1 - 1992/5
N2 - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGF-R) were immunohistochemically localized in trophoblast during human implantation from intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. EGF immunostaining was absent to light in the cytotrophoblast (CT), light to moderate in intermediate trophoblast (IT), and intense in the syncytiotrophoblast (ST). In ST, EGF immunostaining was found mostly in the cytoplasm; however, staining of the plasma membrane was also noted. Immunostaining for the EGF-R was absent to light in the CT and moderate to intense in the IT. Immunostaining for the EGF-R was intense in the ST, with moderate staining in the cytoplasm and intense staining in the plasma membrane. Staining was most intense on the microvilli of the ST. Additionally, EGF-R immunostaining could be demonstrated on nuclear membranes. The increase in the intensity of the immunostaining for both EGF and EGF-R noted in CT, IT, and ST suggests a differentiated expression of this receptor-ligand system in human trophoblast and provides evidence for an autocrine/paracrine role for EGF in trophoblast function. The presence of this receptor-ligand system during early human implantation strongly supports a role for EGF and the EGF-R in embryo-uterine signalling and the implantation process.
AB - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGF-R) were immunohistochemically localized in trophoblast during human implantation from intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. EGF immunostaining was absent to light in the cytotrophoblast (CT), light to moderate in intermediate trophoblast (IT), and intense in the syncytiotrophoblast (ST). In ST, EGF immunostaining was found mostly in the cytoplasm; however, staining of the plasma membrane was also noted. Immunostaining for the EGF-R was absent to light in the CT and moderate to intense in the IT. Immunostaining for the EGF-R was intense in the ST, with moderate staining in the cytoplasm and intense staining in the plasma membrane. Staining was most intense on the microvilli of the ST. Additionally, EGF-R immunostaining could be demonstrated on nuclear membranes. The increase in the intensity of the immunostaining for both EGF and EGF-R noted in CT, IT, and ST suggests a differentiated expression of this receptor-ligand system in human trophoblast and provides evidence for an autocrine/paracrine role for EGF in trophoblast function. The presence of this receptor-ligand system during early human implantation strongly supports a role for EGF and the EGF-R in embryo-uterine signalling and the implantation process.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026632289&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 1569175
AN - SCOPUS:0026632289
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 74
SP - 981
EP - 988
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 5
ER -