Kieckbusch Jens, Gaynor Louise M, Colucci Francesco
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge;
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge.
J Vis Exp. 2015 Dec 5(106):e53534. doi: 10.3791/53534.
The placenta mediates the exchange of factors such as gases and nutrients between mother and fetus and has specific demands for supply of blood from the maternal circulation. The maternal uterine vasculature needs to adapt to this temporary demand and the success of this arterial remodeling process has implications for fetal growth. Cells of the maternal immune system, especially natural killer (NK) cells, play a critical role in this process. Here we describe a method to assess the degree of remodeling of maternal spiral arteries during mouse pregnancy. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections are scanned and the size of the vessels analysed. As a complementary validation method, we also present a qualitative assessment for the success of the remodeling process by immunohistochemical detection of smooth muscle actin (SMA), which normally disappears from within the arterial vascular media at mid-gestation. Together, these methods enable determination of an important parameter of the pregnancy phenotype. These results can be combined with other endpoints of mouse pregnancy to provide insight into the mechanisms underlying pregnancy-related complications.
胎盘介导母体与胎儿之间气体和营养物质等因子的交换，并且对来自母体循环的血液供应有特定需求。母体子宫血管系统需要适应这种临时需求，而这种动脉重塑过程的成功与否对胎儿生长有影响。母体免疫系统的细胞，尤其是自然杀伤（NK）细胞，在这一过程中起关键作用。在此，我们描述一种评估小鼠妊娠期间母体螺旋动脉重塑程度的方法。对苏木精和伊红染色的组织切片进行扫描，并分析血管大小。作为一种补充验证方法，我们还通过免疫组织化学检测平滑肌肌动蛋白（SMA）对重塑过程的成功进行定性评估，平滑肌肌动蛋白在妊娠中期通常会从动脉血管中层消失。这些方法共同作用能够确定妊娠表型的一个重要参数。这些结果可与小鼠妊娠的其他终点相结合，以深入了解妊娠相关并发症的潜在机制。
