Maternal hypoxia activates endovascular trophoblast cell invasion.

ABSTRACT: Oxygen is a critical regulator of placentation. Early placental development occurs in a predominantly low oxygen environment and is, at least partially, under the control of hypoxia signaling pathways. In the present study, in vivo hypobaric hypoxia was used as an experimental tool to delineate hypoxia-sensitive events during placentation. Pregnant rats were exposed to the equivalent of 11% oxygen between days 6.5 and 13.5 of gestation. Pair-fed pregnant animals exposed to ambient conditions were included as a control group. Uterine mesometrial blood vessels in the hypoxia-exposed animals were greatly expanded and some contained large cuboidal cells that were positive for cytokeratin and other markers characteristic of invasive trophoblast cells. Unlike later in gestation, the route of tro

SUBMITTER: Rosario GX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2266816 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature