Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol 3, 725-728, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
M Iwahashi, A Ooshima and R Nakano
To obtain some insight into the extracellular matrix in the human placenta,
we investigated the composition of collagens purified from the placentae of
patients with pre-eclampsia and compared it with normal placentae. Collagen
was extracted from the placentae of both normal and pre-eclampsia
pregnancies during the third trimester. The relative amounts of various
collagens were evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis. The ratio of the intensity of the band corresponding to
the alpha 1 (III) chain with that of the alpha 1 (I) chain in placentae of
pre-eclampsia was significantly lower than in normal placentae (P <
0.05). In contrast, the ratio of the intensity of the band corresponding to
the alpha 1 (V) chain with that of the alpha 1 (I) chain in placentae of
pre-eclampsia was significantly higher than in normal placentae (P <
0.05). The results suggest that an increased level of type V collagen
relative to type I collagen in the placentae of pre-eclampsia might be
closely associated with the disturbance to trophoblastic cell functions and
the supply of nutrients to the developing fetus necessary for the
maintenance of pregnancy.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Increase in the relative level of type V collagen in the placentae of patients with pre-eclampsia
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wakayama Medical College, Japan.
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