Apoptosis and cell proliferation in porcine placental vascularization

- An active vascular remodelation is found in the porcine placenta. It is demonstrated by the proliferative and apoptotic activity.
- The apoptotic vascular cells are more numerous in the gestational days 30 and 90, and the proliferative activity is highest in the gestational days 30 and 80. The high values in day 30 are related to vascular placental changes in the early gestation.
- In the gestational days 80-90 the increase of remodelation is associated to the highest percentage of vascular area.
- This increase could be related with a major fetal metabolic requirement.
- The evaluation of cell proliferation showed the highest%Ki67 values on days 30 and 80 of pregnancy.
- Caspase 3 and the highest apoptotic indices were found in placentas of 30 days. According to our results, an active vascular cell remodeling by a caspase-3 dependent apoptosis seems to be present in early pregnancy.
- The increase in the vascular area on day 80 would be the result of the intense vascular cell proliferation detected with Ki67.

The placenta is a highly vascularized organ, indispensable tothe transfer of nutrients to the growing fetuses. During gestation, there exists an expansion of the placental vascular network through active angiogenesis. The aim of this research was to study cell proliferation and apoptosis through high resolution light microscopy (HRLM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) ultrastructure, immunohistochemistry for Ki67and caspase-3, determination of placental vascular area,and TUNEL assay. Crossbred sows placental tissues from approximately 30 ± 2(n = 5), 40 ± 2(n = 5), 60 ± 2 (n = 5), 80 ± 2(n = 5), 90 ± 2(n = 5) and 114 ± 2(n = 5) days of gestation were used. The evaluation of cell proliferation showed the highest%Ki67 values on days 30 ± 2 and 80 ± 2 of pregnancy. Caspase-3 expressed the highest value on day 30 ± 2, while the highest apoptotic indexes were found on days30 ± 2 and 90 ± 2. The placental vascular area was higher on day 80 ± 2 of pregnancy. According to our results, an active vascular cell remodeling by a caspase-3 dependent apoptosis seems to be present in early pregnancy. The increase in the vascular area on day 80 ± 2 would be the result of the intense vascular cell proliferation detected with Ki67. Further studies are needed to understand the complex processes of angiogenesis, cell proliferation and apoptosis that interact in the placenta during porcine gestation.