Expression of Death Cellular Receptors FAS/CD95 and DR4 During Porcine Placentation

Abstract

MERKIS, C.; CRISTOFOLINI, A.; SANCHIS, E. & KONCURAT, M. Expression of death cellular receptors FAS/CD95 and DR4 during porcine placentation. Int. J. Morphol., 28(3):829-834, 2010. SUMMARY:Apoptosis is a permanent and dynamic physiological process by which an organism eliminates the undesirable cells without causing an inflammatory response. The objective of this work was to study the expression of FAS, DR4 and other members of the TNF-R1 superfamily extrinsic route apoptotic receptors the DNA fragmentation and the cellular apoptosis in placental samples at the early, mid and late pregnancy on ± 30, ± 55 and ± 114 gestational days, respectively. We used placental histological sections of samples fixed in buffered saline formaldehyde. Immunohistochemical techniques were performed to detect the apoptotic receptors, whereas the DNA fragmentation was detected by TUNEL reaction and apoptotic cellular ultrastructure was detected by TEM conventional techniques. Apoptosis related receptors were immunolocalized in the early pig gestation and correlated with apoptosis, suggesting a role in the cellular remodelling of the placenta. At gestation day 55, apoptosis might be correlated to FAS route, but not by DR4-mediating pathway. At the end of gestation, increased apoptosis and both receptors markers were detected showing cellular death due to the extrinsic route through FAS and DR4 receptors. In conclusion, the immunolocalization of FAS and TNF R-1 receptors along the pig placental development correlates with TUNEL reaction and with apoptotic ultrastructure observed by TEM and seems to occur through different pathways along gestation.

Effect of Feed Restriction and Realimentation with Monensin Supplementation on Placental Structure and Ultrastructure in Anglo-Nubian Goats

“…TUNEL assay has been used in other placentation types as an undisputed tool for determination of DNA fragmentation in initial stages of the apoptotic process [32–34]. Particularly, in pigs, TUNEL has allowed the detection of apoptotic levels, so early as at 28 days of gestation [10]. In the present study, the differences observed in apoptotic index (IAp) of R-group reflect the effect of nutritional restriction during peripubertal period of goats.…”

“…Programmed cell death constitutes an essential factor in placental development [10] and together with cell proliferation plays an important role, both processes being inversely proportional: as proliferation increases, apoptosis decreases [11]. It has been demonstrated that apoptosis increases as pregnancy progresses in humans, suggesting it plays an important role in trophoblastic villi differentiation and syncytium formation [12].…”

“…It has been demonstrated that apoptosis increases as pregnancy progresses in humans, suggesting it plays an important role in trophoblastic villi differentiation and syncytium formation [12]. At the beginning of swine gestation, apoptosis has been related with placental villi homeostasis through cell remodelling [10, 13–15], while at the end of humans and swines pregnancy, cell remodelling by apoptosis would be contributing to fetal and maternal membranes separation [13, 16]. Apoptotic index could be modified under stress conditions.…”

Porcine placental immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor, placenta growth factor, Flt-1 and Flk-1

“…Gestation demands placental development and remodeling (Cristofolini 2010,c, Merkis et al 2010. Failures in this process are related to embryonic losses at the end of the fi rst trimester in human gestation (Goldman-Wohl et al 2000).…”

“…We established earlier the importance of extracellular matrix and apoptosis for the formation, development and support of the placental vascular system (Sanchis et al , 2012a(Sanchis et al , 2013 as well as in placental remodeling of gilts (Cristofolini 2010,c, Merkis et al 2010.…”