Petraglia F, Gallinelli A, Grande A, Florio P, Ferrari S, Genazzani A R, Ling N, DePaolo L V
Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, University of Modena, School of Medicine, Italy.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994 Jan;78(1):205-10. doi: 10.1210/jcem.78.1.8288705.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible production, localization, and action of follistatin in human placenta, fetal membranes (amnion, chorion), and maternal decidua. Four different experimental approaches were used: 1) Southern blot analysis following reverse polymerase chain reaction to identify follistatin messenger RNA (mRNA) in tissue homogenates; 2) immunohistochemistry to localize immunoreactive (ir-) follistatin in the various intrauterine tissues; 3) measurement by RIA of ir-follistatin levels in culture medium of placental cells; and 4) possible action of follistatin on human CG (hCG) and progesterone release from cultured placental cells. Placental and decidual cells collected during first trimester or at term gestation express follistatin mRNA; fetal membranes (amnion, chorion) at term also express follistatin mRNA. Immunoreactive follistatin is localized in syncytial cells of placental villi at term as well as in large decidual cells, in amnion epithelium, and in chorionic cells. The placental secretion of follistatin has been confirmed by the evidence of measurable levels of ir-follistatin in the medium of cultured placental cells at term; the release is time dependent and is not modified by the addition of forskolin or progesterone. The addition of increasing doses of recombinant human follistatin does not significantly influence the release of hCG or progesterone from cultured placental cells, whereas the activin A-induced hCG and progesterone release are completely reversed. The present data showed that 1) human placenta, fetal membranes, and decidua express follistatin mRNA; 2) ir-follistatin is localized and released from placental cells at term; and 3) follistatin has a functional role in the local control system regulating placental hormone production.
本研究的目的是调查卵泡抑素在人胎盘、胎膜（羊膜、绒毛膜）和母体蜕膜中的可能产生、定位及作用。采用了四种不同的实验方法：1）逆转录聚合酶链反应后进行Southern印迹分析，以鉴定组织匀浆中的卵泡抑素信使核糖核酸（mRNA）；2）免疫组织化学法定位各种子宫内组织中的免疫反应性（ir-）卵泡抑素；3）放射免疫分析法测定胎盘细胞培养基中ir-卵泡抑素的水平；4）卵泡抑素对培养的胎盘细胞释放人绒毛膜促性腺激素（hCG）和孕酮的可能作用。孕早期或足月妊娠时收集的胎盘和蜕膜细胞表达卵泡抑素mRNA；足月时的胎膜（羊膜、绒毛膜）也表达卵泡抑素mRNA。免疫反应性卵泡抑素定位在足月时胎盘绒毛的合体细胞以及大的蜕膜细胞、羊膜上皮细胞和绒毛膜细胞中。足月时培养的胎盘细胞培养基中可检测到ir-卵泡抑素水平，证实了胎盘分泌卵泡抑素；其释放呈时间依赖性，且不受福斯可林或孕酮添加的影响。添加递增剂量的重组人卵泡抑素对培养的胎盘细胞释放hCG或孕酮无显著影响，而激活素A诱导的hCG和孕酮释放则完全被逆转。目前的数据表明：1）人胎盘、胎膜和蜕膜表达卵泡抑素mRNA；2）足月时ir-卵泡抑素定位并从胎盘细胞释放；3）卵泡抑素在调节胎盘激素产生的局部控制系统中具有功能性作用。
