IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF TROPHOBLAST POPULATIONS IN HUMAN FIRST-TRIMESTER AND TERM PLACENTAE AND OF FIRST-TRIMESTER SPIRAL ARTERIES WITH THE MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY GZ-112

This paper presents an immunohistochemical study with a monoclonal mou se antibody GZ 112, an IgG, kappa, which is directed against an antige n expressed in first trimester placenta by all proliferative and invas ive extravillous trophoblast populations including a population of Lan ghans cells that represent extravillous stem cells. Additionally the G Z 112 antigen is associated with morphological changes of spiral arter ies preceding local trophoblast invasion In term placentae, GZ 112 als o strongly reacts with all extravillous trophoblast populations, but a dditionally recognizes partly villous cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrop hoblast too, displaying a heterogeneous staining pattern. GZ 112 is di rected against a 42-KDa antigen. Intracytoplasmic network-like stainin g and cross-reactivity with various human surface and glandular epithe lia indicate a cytokeratin intermediate filament or a cytokeratin inte rmediate filament associated molecule as antigen. (C) 1997 W. B. Saund ers Company Ltd.