Morphological changes in placenta in cases of oligohydramnios

Background: There are gross and microscopic changes in placenta and umbilical cord in complicated pregnancies. The objective of this study was to study pathological (gross and microscopic) changes in placenta, membrane and umbilical cord in cases with oligohydramnios and to study relationship between changes in placenta, membranes and umbilical cord with severity of oligohydramnios.Methods: A total of 50 patients were selected and their placentas were collected after delivery and sent to pathology department in 10 % formalin for histopathological examination. Patients were divided into three groups and the results were compared. Statistical calculations were performed using the SPSS 16.0. In order to detect differences between subjects students t-test was used for continuous variables, while, for categorical variables, the X2 test was used. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Atotal of 50 patients were studied for a period of one year and following observations were made, discoid shape placenta in 45 (90.0%), oval in 5 (10.0%), central attachment of umbilical cord in 16 cases (32.0%), eccentric in 33 (66.0%), marginal in 1 (2.0%) case following variables were compared and p value detected, placental maximum diameter (p <0.0001),placental minimum diameters (p = 0.041), mean of cord length (p <0.0001) placental weight (p = 0.273), placental thickness (p = 0.253), acute chorioamnionitis (p <0.0001), chronic chorioamnionitis (p<0.0001), focal squamous metaplasia (p <0.0001), bacterial colonies in subamnion (p <0.0001), meconium staining (p <0.0001), amnion nodosum (p < 0.0001), intra amniotic haemorrhage (p = 0.090), membranous deciduitis with chorioamnionitis (p = 0.081), focal haematoma (p = 0.010), acute inflammatory infiltrate in Wharton’s jelly (p = 0.012), single umbilical artery (p =0.010), intervillous fibrin deposition (p <0.0001), calcification (p<0.0001), chorangiosis (p <0.0001), syncytial knots (p <0.0001), avascular villi (p = 0.011), villous edema (p = 0.090) and infarct (p = 0.090).Conclusions: There are alterations in placental morphology associated with oligohydramnios hence placenta should be examined, which may be useful in predicting perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Receptors for insulin and basic somatomedin: immunological and affinity-chromatographic cross-reactivity

Human placental receptors for insulin and for human basic somatomedin (BSM, analogous to human insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I)) were selectively cross-link labelled with 125I-labelled insulin and BSM using disuccinimidyl suberate under conditions whereby cross-linking of 125I-labelled insulin to the BSM receptor and of 125I-labelled BSM to the insulin receptor was avoided. We have found that the cross-link-labelled receptors for insulin and BSM, present in equivalent amounts in human placenta membrane preparations, both cross-react with antibodies directed against purified rat liver insulin receptor. Compared with the human insulin receptor, the BSM receptor cross-reacted with the antireceptor antibody to a level of roughly 9%, indicating a limited sequence homology between the insulin and BSM receptors. Since both receptors are present in comparable amounts in solubilized placenta membrane preparations, we sought methods for the selective purification of both receptors from such extracts, so as to provide a basis for further comparative structural studies of the two receptors. We have observed that both receptors were adsorbed by affinity columns of insulin-agarose, in a manner that did not yield insulin receptor entirely free from the BSM receptor. As an alternative for receptor purification, we have found that immunoaffinity columns using antiligand antibody should provide a means for the selective isolation of cross-link labelled receptor from tissues in which both are present in equivalent amounts.