Study on the correlation of epidermal growth factor and its receptor with spontaneous abortion in early gestation stage

Objective To investigate the expression of Epidermal Growth Factor(EGF) and its receptor(EGFR) in villi and decidua of early normal pregnancy and spontaneous abortion during early pregnancy and explore the the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion.Methods By immunohistochemical technique,expressions of EGF and its receptor were determined in villi and decidua from 20 cases of spontaneous abortion women(spontaneous abortion group),and 20 cases of normal early pregnant women(control group).The levels of β-HCG in maternal's serum were detected by radioimmunoassay(RIA) method.Results There were positive expression of EGF and its receptor in both villu and decidua in two groups.There were no difference in the localization of EGF/ EGFR expression between two groups.The expression of EGF/ EGFR in villu and decidua in spontaneous abortion group was significantly lower than that in control group(P0.01).There was a positive relativity between serumβ-HCG and the expression of EGF/ EGFR in villi(rEGF=0.559,rEGFR=0.567)(P0.01).Conclusion The expressions of EGF and its receptor in the early pregnancy tissues of spontaneous abortion were weaker than that in early normal pregnancy.EGF is probably one of the most important factorsto HCG secretion.The abnormal expressions of EGF and its receptor play an important role in spontaneous abortion,they are probably one of the causes of abortion.