Abstract
Background: During fetal life ductus arteriosus Botalli (DA) is the shunt blood vessel between pulmonary artery and aorta, bypassing pulmonary circulation. Due to its fate of closure it undergoes a different development compared to the main arteries. This programmed proliferative degeneration underlies a large developmental variation. Prostaglandines regulate ductal tone during pregnancy and mediate closure after birth. Cyclooxygenases (COX) catalyse the first committed step in prostaglandine synthesis. Numerous studies have been carried out on ductal expression of COXs in different species but very few studies exist on human tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate gestational age dependent protein expression of COX1 and 2 in developing human DA and the corresponding main arteries.
Measurements: Specimens of the DA and corresponding main arteries from 71 human foetuses were collected. For determination of histological maturity of the DA in comparison to gestational age all 71 specimens were scored after a new maturity score system. For examination of COX-expression specimens suspicious for inflammatory events and malformation of the main arteries were excluded. The 50 cases included were examined for COX-expression using immunohistochemical techniques.
Results: In 63 out of 71 cases gestational and histological age corresponded. COX1 staining intensity rose steadily during development and was strong from the 28th week on, while COX2 staining remained weak during development. As for the main arteries moderate staining for COX1 and 2 was seen throughout development.
Conclusion: For the first time data based on a huge number of cases can be provided for COX1 and 2 protein expression in human developing ductus arteriosus and corresponding main arteries. The findings on COX1 and 2 expression in DA are consistent with results found in other species.
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Rheinländer, C., Weber, S., Sarioglu, N. et al. 306 Differential Expression of Cyclooxygenases During Development of Human Ductus Arteriosus. Pediatr Res 58, 407 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00335
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00335