Cancer in pregnancy alters the rat placenta activity enhancing the expression of some apoptotic precursors.

• Grant number: 05/02982-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: November 01, 2005
• End date: November 30, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes Marcondes
• Grantee: Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes Marcondes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The cancer growth makes difficult to predict the pregnancy evolution and can be deleterious to the maternal-foetal relationship. Apoptosis may affect a range of placental functions resulting in the foetal growth retardation. In this work, we investigated the alterations produced by tumour-growth effects on the expression of apoptotic precursors in placenta tissue. Female adult Wistar rats (90 days old, n=54), were distributed into control (C), tumour-bearing (W), and ascitic fluid injected groups (A) and were killed on 16th, 19th or 21st day of pregnancy after breeding. Placental tissues were analysed and the protein content and glutathione-S-transferase activity were decreased in groups W and A. The number of cells which showed cleaved PARP, caspase 3 and cytochrome c by histochemistry assay increased in groups W and A indicating that tumour effects clearly damaged placental tissue and affected the levels of apoptotic precursors. These results were confirmed by western blotting. Since trophoblastic cells are responsible for maintaining a normal placental function, the uncontrolled death of these cells in response to tumour cell growth or ascitic fluid substances could have a negative impact on foetal development. Further knowledge of these events may help to preserve the foetus and placenta during development. (AU)