Biomaterial Database

Ultrastructural localization of human placental lactogen in distinctive granules in human term placenta: comparison with granules containing human chorionic gonadotropin. 1988

D W Morrish, and H Marusyk, and D Bhardwaj

Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Human placental lactogen (hPL) is known to originate in the syncytiotrophoblast, as demonstrated by light microscopic peroxidase and immunofluorescent staining. However, ultrastructural localization of hPL has not previously been performed. In these experiments, immunostaining of electron microscopic sections using protein A-gold and avidin-biotin complex techniques was used to study hPL and human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) localization in first trimester and term placentae. HPL was localized in many small (0.12-0.25 micron) granules. In contrast, beta hCG was found in large (0.40-1.2 micron) granule complexes. The results therefore demonstrate that these two hormones are stored in two morphologically distinct types of cytoplasmic granules. Since hPL and hCG have different secretory mechanisms, this methodology will be useful in studying these differing mechanisms in human placenta.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007158	Immunologic Techniques	Techniques used to demonstrate or measure an immune response, and to identify or measure antigens using antibodies.	Antibody Dissociation,Immunologic Technic,Immunologic Technics,Immunologic Technique,Immunological Technics,Immunological Techniques,Technic, Immunologic,Technics, Immunologic,Technique, Immunologic,Techniques, Immunologic,Antibody Dissociations,Dissociation, Antibody,Dissociations, Antibody,Immunological Technic,Immunological Technique,Technic, Immunological,Technics, Immunological,Technique, Immunological,Techniques, Immunological
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D010920	Placenta	A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES).	Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D010928	Placental Lactogen	A polypeptide hormone of approximately 25 kDa that is produced by the SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLASTS of the PLACENTA, also known as chorionic somatomammotropin. It has both GROWTH HORMONE and PROLACTIN activities on growth, lactation, and luteal steroid production. In women, placental lactogen secretion begins soon after implantation and increases to 1 g or more a day in late pregnancy. Placental lactogen is also an insulin antagonist.	Choriomammotropin,Chorionic Somatomammotropin, Human,Human Placental Lactogen,Lactogen Hormone, Placental,Mammotropic Hormone, Placental,Somatomammotropin, Chorionic,Choriomammotrophin,HCS (Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin),HPL (Human Placental Lactogen),PAPP-D,Placental Luteotropin,Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein D,Chorionic Somatomammotropin,Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin,Lactogen, Placental,Luteotropin, Placental,Placental Lactogen, Human,Placental Mammotropic Hormone,Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein D
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D003594	Cytoplasmic Granules	Condensed areas of cellular material that may be bounded by a membrane.	Cytoplasmic Granule,Granule, Cytoplasmic,Granules, Cytoplasmic
D005260	Female		Females
D006063	Chorionic Gonadotropin	A gonadotropic glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the PLACENTA. Similar to the pituitary LUTEINIZING HORMONE in structure and function, chorionic gonadotropin is involved in maintaining the CORPUS LUTEUM during pregnancy. CG consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is virtually identical to the alpha subunits of the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN).	Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human,HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin),Biogonadil,Choriogonadotropin,Choriogonin,Chorulon,Gonabion,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Pregnyl,Gonadotropin, Chorionic,Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings