Expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase isoform in chorionic villi in the early spontaneous abortion

To investigate the relationship between inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the early spontaneous abortion., in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of iNOS in trophoblasts in the early pregnancy with and without spontaneous abortion (group I and group II). By light microscopy and computer color magic image analysis system (CMIAS), light density (D) and the positive cell number per statistic square (N/S) in situ hybridization were used to analyze the positive cell index, while total positive cells (N) and the positive unit (Pu) were used in immunohistochemistry. By in situ hybridization, D and N/S in trophoblasts were 0.35 +/- 0.028, 0.07 +/- 0.011 respectively in group I and 0.18 +/- 0.016, 0.015 +/- 0.003 in group II. In terms of immunohistochemical staining, N and Pu were 0.058 +/- 0.007, 11.94 +/- 2.01 in group I and 0.013 +/- 0.009, 1.08 +/- 0.35 in group II in trophoblasts. Significant differences existed between two groups. It is concluded that the higher nitric oxide produced by the higher expression of iNOS in trophoblasts might play an important role in the early spontaneous abortion.