Placenta accreta: an immunohistological study of trophoblast populations

Abstract

Trophoblast populations in four cases of placenta accreta were characterized using antibodies directed against cell membrane antigens, placental hormonal products and low-molecular-weight cytokeratins in standard immunoperoxidase techniques. The results obtained with antibody to syncytiotrophoblast membrane (rabbit anti-StMPM), antibody to an epithelial membrane antigen (HMFG1) and a cytokeratin marker (CAM 5.2) appeared identical to those reported for normal term placental tissues. Similarly the localization of human placental lactogen (hPL), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and pregnancy-specific β1-glycoprotein (SP1) within trophoblast populations in placenta accreta was identical to their reported distribution in term placenta. However, increased reactivity at the villous-maternal junction was demonstrated with NDOG1, an antibody raised against term syncytiotrophoblast membrane and directed against hyaluronic acid. NDOG1 reactivity at this site is normally maximal during early p