IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CHORIONIC TROPHOBLAST AND DECIDUAL CELLS OF FETAL MEMBRANES IN CASE OF ANTE-INTRANATAL FETAL DEATH

Abstract

The aim: To identify immunohistochemical and morphometric features of chorionic trophoblast cells and fetal membranes derived decidual cells, which were obtained from stillbirths associated with pre-eclampsia, iron deficiency anemia, and acute chorioamnionitis. Materials and methods: The study included 58 fetal membranes of fetuses, who died in the ante-intranatal period. The membranes were divided into 6 obstetric history-based groups: premature (n = 8) and full-term (n = 8) stillbirths complicated by preeclampsia; premature (n = 8) and full-term ( n = 8) stillbirths complicated by iron deficiency anemia, premature (n = 10) and full-term (n = 16) stillbirths complicated by chorioamnionitis. A control group consisted of 8 membranes obtained from physiological pregnancies followed by the birth of a live full-term baby. Samples (rupture site) were probed with cytokeratin to identify the fetal trophoblast layer of the chorion and with vimentin for further identification of the decidual cells. The thickness of the trophoblastic layer, expression levels of cytokeratin and vimentin were determined. Results: A decrease of the cytokeratin expression by the chorionic trophoblasts and a thinning of the chorionic trophoblast cell layer due to an increasing gestational age were shown in case of the mentioned pathological conditions. In comparison with the control group, the level of vimentin expression by decidual cells was increased in case of full-term pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia, decreased in pregnancies complicated by chorioamnionitis, and remained unchanged in case of accompanying anemia. Conclusions: The changes in the studied immunohistochemical parameters are more pronounced in case of chorioamnionitis, which indicates more severe morphological and functional changes.