[The study on correlation of c-myc expression with vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in uterine spiral arteries of pregnancy induced hypertension].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate c-myc proto-oncogene expression of uterine spiral arteries in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and the relationship of this expression with vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation in uterine spiral arteries of PIH.

METHODS

Forty-nine placental bed biopsies, 29 from women with PIH and 20 from normotensive pregnant women, were taken during cesarean section. The expression of c-myc in uterine spiral arteries was detected and localized by in situ hybridization. Histological changes of placental bed biopsies were evaluated by HE staining.

RESULTS

The positive rate of c-myc was 63.6% (7/11) in moderate PIH and 72.2% (13/18) in severe PIH respectively. They were significantly higher than that in normotensive pregnancy (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, Fisher exact test). 54.5% (6/11) of moderate PIH and 55.6% (10/18) of severe PIH had VSMC proliferation. This was only 10.0% (2/20) in normotensive pregnancy. It was significantly lower than those of moderate and severe PIH (P < 0.05, P < 0.005, Fisher exact test). In PIH cases the VSMC proliferation in uterine spiral arteries was correlated with higher c-myc expression (chi-square test, P = 0.0093).

CONCLUSION

c-myc expression is higher in VSMC of uterine spiral arteries in PIH. VSMC Proloferates obviously in uterine spiral arteries of PIH cases. VSMC proliferation in PIH may be associated with c-myc expression.