Study of apoptosis in chorion villi and decidua in spontaneous abortion

Objective To study the expression of apoptosis in chorion villi and decidua and its effects on spontaneous abortion.Methods Chorion villi and decidua of first-trimester were obtained from 40 surgical aspiration and 40 spontaneous abortion cases.Apoptosis was detected by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick ending labeling(TUNEL).Results In spontaneous abortion,the apoptosis indexes(AI) of cytotrophoblasts,syncytotrophoblasts and decidua were 24.54±3.21,40.25±5.27 and 56.14±4.56,while in normal pregnancies they were 10.31±1.25,15.65±5.45 and 10.54±1.82.The apoptosis indexes were significantly increased in spontaneous abortion by comparision with their counterparts in surgical aspiration(p0.01). Conclusion The apoptosis indexes increase in spontaneous abortion.Apoptosis may play crucial roles in the development of spontaneous abortion.