Suppression of extravillous trophoblast vascular endothelial growth factor expression and uterine spiral artery invasion by estrogen during early baboon pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: We have shown that advancing the increase in maternal serum estrogen levels from the second to the first third of baboon pregnancy suppressed extravillous cytotrophoblast (EVT) spiral artery invasion. Because vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes EVT invasion, the present study determined whether EVT VEGF expression is altered by prematurely elevating estrogen in early pregnancy. Placental basal plate was obtained on d 60 of gestation (term is 184 d) from baboons treated daily on d 25-59 with estradiol (0.35 mg/d sc), which increased maternal peripheral serum estradiol levels 3-fold above normal. Overall percentage of uterine arteries (25 to more than 100 microm in diameter) invaded by EVT assessed by image analysis in untreated baboons (29.11+/-5.78%) was decreased 4.5-fold (

SUBMITTER: Bonagura TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2582926 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature