Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (3)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McParland, P.C.
Right arrow Articles by Taylor, D.J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by McParland, P.C.
Right arrow Articles by Taylor, D.J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 5, 463-474, May 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Implantation and pregnancy

Regional and cellular localization of osteonectin/SPARC expression in connective tissue and cytotrophoblastic layers of human fetal membranes at term

P.C. McParland1,, S.C. Bell1,3,, J.H. Pringle2, and D.J. Taylor1,

Preterm Birth Research Group, 1 Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and 2 Department of Pathology, Leicester Warwick Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK

Abstract

Fetal membranes overlying the cervix in patients prior to and during labour, and within the rupture tear after spontaneous delivery at term, exhibit altered morphology. In this study we report that in comparison to mid-zone fetal membranes biopsies, these regions are characterized by increased expression of the matricellular protein osteonectin or SPARC (Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine). In the reticular layer, the percentage of vimentin positive mesenchymal cells immunoreactive for osteonectin increased in these regions from 3–4% to 25–33% and represented a fraction of the {alpha}-smooth muscle actin positive myofibroblasts elevated in the same regions. In the fibroblastic layer, the percentage of osteonectin positive cells increased from 1–5% to 8–13%; however, these did not exhibit the same relationship to the {alpha}-smooth muscle actin positive myofibroblasts in this layer. In the cytotrophoblastic layer the percentage of cytotrophoblastic cells immunoreactive for osteonectin increased from 1% to 6–12%. Elevation of in-situ detectable mRNA was also observed in the same cellular populations in this region. The incidence of cells positive for osteonectin mRNA or protein in the reticular layer correlated with morphological changes. Osteonectin has been implicated in the regulation of extracellular matrix turnover, and its pattern of expression suggests a role in the regional connective tissue and cytotrophoblastic changes proposed to be involved in the cleavage and rupture of fetal membranes.

amnion/chorion/cytotrophoblast/myofibroblast/osteonectin

Notes

3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: scb{at}leicester.ac.uk


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Cancer Res.Home page
M. Adams, J. L. Jones, R. A. Walker, J. H. Pringle, and S. C. Bell
Changes in Tenascin-C Isoform Expression in Invasive and Preinvasive Breast Disease
Cancer Res., June 1, 2002; 62(11): 3289 - 3297.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.