LOCALIZATION OF FIBRILLIN-1 IN THE HUMAN TERM PLACENTA

OBJECTIVE: We determined the level of message for fibrillin-1, a singl e-stranded glycoprotein found in the elastic microfibrils of the extra cellular matrix, in human placenta compared with other adult human tis sues and localized the protein in the term human placenta. METHODS: No rthern blot analysis using a cDNA specific for fibrillin-1 was used to compare message levels in several adult human tissues and placenta. I mmunohistochemical staining, using a monoclonal antibody to human fibr illin-1, was used to visualize the site of fibrillin-1 in term human p lacenta. RESULTS: Larger amounts of message for fibrillin-1 were prese nt in placenta than in any of the other tissues tested. Staining for f ibrillin-1 was present in the villous stroma but not in the basement m embranes, trophoblast cells, or in blood vessels of stern, mature inte rmediate, or terminal villi. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrillin-1 is distributed e xtensively in the villous stroma of the term human placenta and may co ntribute elastic properties to the placenta and basal plate required f or an active uterus.