Placental apoptosis in normal and abnormal pregnancies

The aim of this study was to demonstrate apoptosis in the human placenta in normal and abnormal pregnancies. The percentage of apoptotic cells in plac ental samples was quantified by analyzing the cell cycle of nuclei stained with propidium iodide using a flow cytometer, No significant difference in the percentage of apoptotic cells was observed comparing the group of norma l pregnancies (first and second trimesters) with those of missed abortions. There was also no difference in the incidence of apoptosis comparing place ntal samples obtained from chromosomally normal and abnormal pregnancies. Y et, there was a significant increase in the incidence of apoptosis in place ntal samples obtained from second and third trimesters as compared with tho se obtained from the first trimester (p < 0.04 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was also a significant increase in the incidence of placental apopto sis in the third as compared with the second trimester (p < 0.03). Copyrigh t (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.