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[PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) in the tissues and organs of the human fetus. II]
Z Tauber1, V Lichnovský, M Bocek
1Institut für Histologie und Embryologie, Medizinische Fakultät der Palacký Universität, Olomouc, Tschechische Republik.
Insights
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) expression was detected in various human fetal organs between 10-25 weeks. This indicates widespread cell proliferation during critical stages of human development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Context:
- Investigating cellular proliferation in human fetal development.
- Utilizing Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) as a marker for cell division.
Purpose:
- To map the expression patterns of PCNA in key human fetal organs.
- To identify tissues with high proliferative activity during intrauterine development.
Summary:
- PCNA expression was observed in the heart (myoblasts), lungs (bronchial tree epithelium, mesenchyme, vasculature), kidneys (nephrogenic zone), adrenal glands (cortex and medulla), liver (hepatocytes, endothelium, bile ducts), and intestines.
- Distinct and high expression levels of PCNA were noted in specific cellular compartments, highlighting active growth phases.
Impact:
- Provides a foundational understanding of cell proliferation dynamics during human organogenesis.
- Establishes baseline PCNA expression data for future studies on fetal development and potential pathologies.
Abstract:
The expression of PCNA was proved in some organs of human fetuses aged from 10 to 25 weeks of the intrauterine development. The distinct expression of PCNA was demonstrated in the nuclei of the myoblasts of the ventricles and atria of the fetal heart. The high expression of PCNA was found in the nuclei of the epithelial cells of the fetal bronchial tree, surrounding mesenchyme and in the nuclei of the endothelial cells of the primitive vessels. The highest expression of PCNA was demonstrated in the nuclei of the cells of the "neogene zone" of the primitive kidney. The distinct expression of PCNA exhibited the nuclei of the cells of the surface zone of the primitive adrenal cortex and the cells of the primitive islets of the adrenal medulla. The expression of PCNA was demonstrated in the primitive hepatocytes, endothelial cells of the liver sinusoids and epithelial cells of the bile ducts and in the epithelial cells of the intestinal anlage.