Study of concentrations of collagen in fetal membranes of normal pregnancies of women smokers

• Grant number: 12/02092-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Sebastião Piato
• Grantee: Sebastião Piato
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP). Fundação Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fetal membranes are importantto keep fluid inside the uterus because they help guarantee that such fluid Will exercise its functions, for example biological and mechanical protection to fetus, maintenance of temperature and expansion of fetal lung. The absence of amniotic fluid would increase risks of prematurity, chorioamnionitis and fetal deformities. Chorion and amnion, with its various sub-layers, compose fetal membranes. Among its constituents, collagen is a major, especially types I and III (most abundant), which is present along its membranes' length. The mechanisms which lead to premature rupture of membranes ultimately consist of degradation or alteration of the collagen in the extracellular matrix. Substances present in cigarettes cause tissue hypoxia and block action of inhibitors of enzymes, which degrade collagen matrix, also knows metalloproteinases. Thus, tobacco may be responsible for a weakening of the membranes by destroying their collagen, favoring their premature rupture. The propose of this study is to compare the amount of total collagen and collagen type I between m embranes of women who smoke and those who do not smoke. Because of inexistenc e of previous research in this direction, a pilot study will be run, with 48 women, half smokers and half control group, from whom will be extracted a squared fragment sized 3cm by 1cm, as tick as the membrane, positioned 5cm below the placental membrane reflex limit, The quantify of total collagen, marked by ricocirios, and collagen type I, marked by immunohistochemistry, will be obtained to posterior comparison. (AU)