Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 48, Issue 3 , Pages 262-267, September 2009

Expression of Androgen Receptor in Human Placentas from Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies

  • Te-Yao Hsu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Kuo-Chung Lan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chih-Chang Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chi-Yu Ou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Bi-Hua Cheng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Men-Yin Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hong-Yo Kang

      Affiliations

    • Center for Menopause and Reproductive Medicine Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yu-Hsia Tung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yi-Hush Wong

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ko-En Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Center for Menopause and Reproductive Medicine Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Ko-En Huang, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Niaosung Hsiang, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Accepted 6 July 2009.

Article Outline

Summary 

Objective

To elucidate the expression of androgen receptor (AR) in human placenta from normal and preeclamptic (PE) pregnancies.

Materials and Methods

This study was performed at the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Academic Medical Center. Forty normal pregnant women at 37.0 ± 0.89 weeks' gestation and 40 women with preeclampsia at 35.9 ± 1.33 weeks' gestation were included in this study. Serum testosterone was measured before delivery. Immunochemical methodology was employed in formalin- fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from the placentas of all subjects. AR expression was evaluated in placentas collected from 15 normal pregnant women and 12 PE women.

Results

Women with preeclampsia had an elevated serum testosterone level (0.52 ± 0.13 vs. 0.34 ± 0.11 ng/mL; p < 0.01). The expression of AR in both placentas was confirmed using immunohistochemistry and was primarily present in the nucleus and cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblasts and stromal cells. There was a significant increase in AR mRNA expression in PE placentas compared with normal placentas.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the increased AR expression may alter AR-mediated function on syncytiotrophoblasts and stromal cells in PE placentas, and be a possible mechanism for its association with preeclampsia.

Key Words:  androgen receptors , placenta , preeclampsia

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PII: S1028-4559(09)60301-6

doi:10.1016/S1028-4559(09)60301-6

Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 48, Issue 3 , Pages 262-267, September 2009

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