Shortly after the onset of implantation, polar mouse trophoblast cells proliferate and give rise to the ectoplacental cone, constituted by two distinct cell populations: undifferentiated, diploid cells and giant cells. Giant cells characteristically exhibit exaggerated dimensions and polyploid nuclei. In this study, we employ ectoplacental cones as a dynamic source of trophoblast giant cells to analyze cell proliferation, cell death, and ploidy under in vitro conditions. Our results show that DNA synthesis and the increase in the cell number are relevant only during the first 24 h of culture. Subsequently, DNA synthesis still occurs, mainly in the giant cell compartment, while the number of cells gradually decreases. Cell death by injury and apoptosis was also observed in the non-giant cell compartment of the ectoplacental cone. These findings suggest that the first 24 h of culture are crucial to the mitotic activity of the ectoplacental cone cells that gradually ceases, favoring the endoreduplication process. The DNA synthesis index during the subsequent experimental intervals emphasizes accumulation of DNA for the polyploidization. There was clear correlation between DNA content and nuclear dimension. The ploidy values for the trophoblast giant cells varied from 2C up to 368C in the giant cells, but were not as expressive as those known from in vivo conditions, probably due to the absence of regulatory factors specific to the embryonic-maternal interface. In situ hybridization and histochemistry for the nucleolusorganizing region showed that trophoblast nuclei have only two marker signals, indicative of a typical polytenic process. This present study elucidates important aspects of trophoblast behavior and provides new information on trophoblast physiology in vivo and in vitro.
Two chromosome 3 short arm duplications identified through G-banding were further investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of microsatellite markers, aiming at mapping breakpoints and disclosing mechanisms of origin of these chromosome aberrations. Patient 1 was found to be a mosaic: a 3p12 --> 3p21 duplication was observed in most of his cells, and a normal cell line occurred with a frequency of about 3% in blood. In situ hybridization of chromosome 3 short- and long-arm libraries confirmed the short-arm duplication. Using FISH of short-arm sequences, the YAC 961_h_3 was shown to contain the proximal breakpoint (3p12.1 or 3p12.2), and the distal breakpoint was located between the YACs 729_c_3 and 806_h_2, which are adjacent in the WC 3.10 contig (3p21.1). In Patient 2, G-banding indicated a 3p21 --> 3p24 duplication, without mosaicism. In situ hybridization of chromosome 3 short- and long-arm libraries confirmed the duplication of short-arm sequences. FISH of chromosome 3 sequences showed that the YAC 749_a_7 spanned the proximal breakpoint (3p21.33). The distal breakpoint mapped to the interval between YACs 932_b_6 (3p24.3) and 909_b_6 (3p25). In both cases, microsatellite genotyping pointed to a rearrangement between paternal sister chromatids.
Cytogenetic studies of normal and tumor cells in a patient with gonadal dysgenesis and bilateral gonadoblastoma were performed. The karyotype was 46,XY in peripheral blood lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts. The conserved region of the SRY gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Sequencing of this region did not reveal any alterations. A 46,XY chromosome constitution was observed in the right gonadoblastoma, but a partial deletion of chromosome 13 was present in the left tumor. This deletion included band 13q14, where the retinoblastoma gene is mapped. The study of the polymorphism of the variable number of tandem repeats region in intron 17 of the RB1 locus disclosed loss of heterozygosity in both the left tumor, which showed the deletion of chromosome 13, and in the right tumor, where no chromosome alterations of chromosome 13 were detected. In situ hybridization covering 130 kb of RB1 showed that a partial deletion of one of the RB1 alleles had occurred in the right tumor. Since the deletions affected different alleles in each tumor, independent events must have been involved in the development of the tumors. These findings point toward a significant role of RB1 in the development of gonadoblastoma.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.