Expression of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 in human placental explants from first trimester

DIETRICH VALERIA; RECA ALEJANDRA; SZPILBARG NATALIA; MOYA GRACIELA; MASKIN BERNARDO; DAMIANO ALICIA E

Foz de Iguazu

Simposio; V LatinAmerican Symposium on Maternal-Fetal Interaction & Placenta; 2013

Placenta Association of the Americas- Grupo Latinoamericano de placenta

Background. Placentation occurs in a hypoxic environment essential for an appropriate trophoblast development. We previously informed that hypoxia may modify the expression of Naþ/Hþ exchanger isoform-3 (NHE-3) in normal term placenta. However, its expression and its role during placentation are still unknown. Objective. Our aim is to study the expression and localization of NHE-3 in a culture of human first trimester chorionic villous explants and to evaluate if changes in oxygen tension may modify NHE-3 expression. Methodology. Chorionic villous samples from ongoing pregnancies (12-14 weeks), obtained by an approved ethical committee, were incubated under different oxygen tensions or with CoCl2. RT-PCR,Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed. Results.We observed that NHE-3 expressionwas decreased under hypoxia or CoCl2 treatment but it was not restored after reoxygenation. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that hypoxia may alter NHE-3 expression during the first trimester of pregnancy and HIF-1 may be involved in these changes.