Cytokeratin Antibodies as Differential Markers of Trophoblast and Fetomaternal Syncytial Plaques in the Sheep Placentome

Kadyrov, M.; Garnier, Y.; Gantert, M.; Kramer, B.W.; Kaufmann, P.; Huppertz, B.

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2007.05.007

« Previous Next »Placenta
Volume 28, Issue 11 , Pages 1107-1109, November 2007

Cytokeratin Antibodies as Differential Markers of Trophoblast and Fetomaternal Syncytial Plaques in the Sheep Placentome

M. Kadyrov
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Y. Garnier
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Present address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany.
M. Gantert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Present address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany.
B.W. Kramer
- Department of Pediatrics, AZM Maastricht, The Netherlands
P. Kaufmann
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
B. Huppertz
- Institute of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Center of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21/7, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +43 316 380 7604; fax: +43 316 380 9625.

Accepted 13 May 2007. published online 30 June 2007.

Abstract

The sheep placenta is an often used model in placental research. Uterine epithelium and trophoblast of this synepitheliochorial placenta form a complex, intensely interdigitating epithelial barrier separating maternal and fetal organisms. The close topographical relation and additionally the presence of hybrid syncytia formed by focal fusion of both epithelia hamper identification of the various cellular constituents. Therefore we aimed to find a specific immunohistochemical marker differentiating between the fetomaternal syncytial plaques and trophoblast. A monoclonal antibody directed against type II cytokeratins strongly stained unicellular trophoblast. The syncytial plaques were only weakly stained while binucleate trophoblast remained unstained. This antibody proved to be a useful tool for easy histological orientation in the sheep placenta. In combination with other antibodies in double immunohistochemistry it facilitates exact localization of antigens.

Keywords: Sheep placenta, Trophoblast, Binucleate cells, Fetomaternal syncytial plaques, Type II cytokeratin