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Molecular alterations induced by hypertension in pregnancy on syncythiotrophoblast plasma membranes from human
L Mazzanti1, A Damadei, N Cester
1Istituto di Biochimica, Morfologia Umana, Ancona, Italy.
Abstract:
To evaluate the possible functional relationships between hypertensive status and syncythiotrophoblast plasma membrane behaviour we have carried out a freeze-fracturing and biochemical investigation to assess: 1) ultrastructurally, relations between number and diameter of Intramembrane Particles (IMP) and hypertensive conditions; 2) biochemically, actin content of microvilli in this pathological status. Our data in vitro show a decrease of IMP in hypertension before and after Ca++ addition and a decrease of actin in microvilli of hypertensive placenta. These observations seem to be in agreement with the hypothesis of a possible structural immaturity in hypertensive placenta and may represent morphological signs of placental insufficiency.