Assessment of apoptosis and appearance of hepatocyte growth factor in placenta at different gestational ages: A cross-sectional study

Fetal growth is determined by the interaction between mother and fetus using the placental interface throughout the pregnancy.

To research apoptosis and appearance of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in placentas of different gestational ages and to describe the anthropometrical and clinical indices of mothers and newborns.

The study material was obtained from 53 human immunodeficiency virus negative pregnant women of legal age without systemic diseases. The staining of placental apoptotic cells was processed by a standard in situ cell death detection kit. The detection of HGF was provided by the ImmunoCruz goat ABC Staining System protocol sc-2023. Relative distribution of positive structures was evaluated using the semiquantitative counting method.

The mean rank value of the amount of HGF-containing cells (cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, extravillous trophoblasts, Höfbauer cells, and cells of extraembryonic mesoderm) was 1.61 ± 0.94. Apoptotic cells (cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, extravillous trophoblasts, and cells of extraembryonic mesoderm) were found in all placental samples of various gestational ages (term 13.00 ± 13.05 and preterm 27.00 ± 18.25); in general, their amount decreased with advancing gestational age of the placenta (p < 0.01).

Weight of a placenta directly depends on the gestational age and correlates with the main fetal anthropometrical parameters (weight, length, and head and chest circumferences). The decrease in HGF-containing and apoptotic cells with advancing gestation depends on the adaptation potential of the placenta, proving the other ways of cellular disposition.