APOPTOSIS CASPASE-DEPENDENT IN CROSSBRED PORCINE PLACENTAS

ALONSO L, CRISTOFOLINI A, MOLIVA M, SANCHIS E, CHANIQUE A, MERKIS C.

San Juan

Congreso; SECOND JOINT MEETING OF THE BIOLOGY SOCIETIES FROM ARGENTINA; 2011

The apoptosis is a process in which several processes are involved related to maintain cell homeostasis. The mechanisms thar regulateapoptosis are essencial to the normal placental development. Extrinsec and intrinsec signaling pathways activate a group of amplifing enzimes, the caspases, that function as initiators, effectors and executioners in the cascade of apoptotic events. Our purpose was to study the fragmentation of DNA through TUNEL assay and the immunolocalization of caspase-3, executioner of the apoptotic process, by immnohistochemistry. Histological samples of 4 m from placentas of 28, 60 and 114 days of gestation were used. TUNEL (+) nuclei were observed in placental cells at the beggining, the half and the end of gestation. The induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis was determined by the resence of the enzime in villi, glands and blood vessels in the three gestational periods analysed. Caspase-independent apoptosis was detected in fetal mesenchyme at days 30 and 60 of gestation. We have previously determined the differential activation of the two apoptotic pathways in the remodeling of different porcine placental structures. In conclusion, in the present work we determined that the interconnection of specific apoptotic signals observed are executed, mainly, through the mechanisms dependent of caspases, by the exception of some placental structures in which apoptosis would be triggered by an independent activator.