[Study on the correlation of transforming growth factor beta1 and its receptors with spontaneous abortion after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the expressions of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its receptors (TbetaR) in villi and decidua during early pregnancy and their effects on early embryo development, and explore the mechanism of spontaneous abortion. METHODS: By immunohistochemical technique, expressions of TGF-beta1 and its receptors were determined in villi and decidua from 10 cases of spontaneous abortion women after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET group), 20 cases of spontaneous abortion women (spontaneous abortion group), and 20 cases of normal early pregnancy women (control group). RESULTS: TGF-beta1 and its receptors had high expressions in decidua cells, villus glands and interstitial cytoplasm in all three groups. The average light density of the expressions of TGF-beta1 in the villi and decidua of IVF-ET, spontaneous abortion and control groups were 0.167 and 0.199, 0.198 and 0.201, 0.277 and 0.274, respectively. The intensity of TbetaR-I in the villi and decidua of IVF-ET, spontaneous abortion and control groups were 0.144 and 0.150, 0.202 and 0.201, 0.238 and 0.281, respectively. And the expressions of TbetaR-II in the villi and decidua of IVF-ET, spontaneous abortion and control groups were 0.199 and 0.145, 0.153 and 0.156, 0.300 and 0.301, respectively. The differences between the control group and both abortion groups were all significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of TGF-beta1 and its receptors in the early pregnancy tissues of aborted women declined. It demonstrates that the abnormal expressions of TGF-beta1 and its receptors play an important role in spontaneous abortion, they are one of the causes of spontaneous abortion.