This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tsatsaris, V. Articles by Evain-Brion, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tsatsaris, V. Articles by Evain-Brion, D.

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and CGRP Receptor Expression at the Human Implantation Site

Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U427 (V.T., A.T., P.M., D.E.B.), Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques de Paris, Université René Descartes, Paris V, 75006 Paris, France; and Unité INSERM U349 (J.M.G., N.S., A.J.), Centre Viggo Petersen, 75010 Paris, France

Abstract

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide produced by tissue-specific alternative splicing of the primary transcript of the calcitonin gene. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the expression of CGRP and its receptor at the human implantation site, and 2) to examine the possible in vitro effect of this neuropeptide on two major partners of implantation, decidual cells and extravillous cytotrophoblasts. Immunohistological analysis of first-trimester placental chorionic villi showed CGRP in decidual cells and glandular cells, but not in extravillous trophoblast cells. CGRP expression was confirmed in cultured decidual cells by Southern blot analysis and immunocytochemistry and by RIA in culture medium. Transcripts of calcitonin receptor-like receptor were detected by Southern blot analysis of RT-PCR amplicons from both decidual and extravillous trophoblast cells, whereas transcripts for the receptor activity-modifying protein 1 were detected in decidual cells only. In vitro, CGRP stimulated cAMP production but not nitric oxide (NO) release by cultured decidual cells; in contrast CGRP increased NO release but not cAMP production in cultured extravillous trophoblasts. The presence of NO synthase (endothelial and inducible) was confirmed by immunodetection in extravillous trophoblasts, both in situ and in vitro. This study points to a paracrine and autocrine effect of CGRP on decidual and extravillous trophoblast cells, two major actors in implantation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. St. J. Whitley, P. R. Dash, L.-J. Ayling, F. Prefumo, B. Thilaganathan, and J. E. Cartwright Increased Apoptosis in First Trimester Extravillous Trophoblasts from Pregnancies at Higher Risk of Developing Preeclampsia Am. J. Pathol., June 1, 2007; 170(6): 1903 - 1909. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-L. Dong, D. M. Reddy, K. E. Green, M. S. Chauhan, H.-Q. Wang, M. Nagamani, G. D.V. Hankins, and C. Yallampalli Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CALCA) Is a Proangiogenic Growth Factor in the Human Placental Development Biol Reprod, May 1, 2007; 76(5): 892 - 899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.J. Ayling, G.St.J. Whitley, J.D. Aplin, and J.E. Cartwright Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) regulates trophoblast invasion and motility through effects on nitric oxide Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2006; 21(10): 2530 - 2537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.E. Green, C. Thota, G.D.V. Hankins, C. Yallampalli, and Y.-L. Dong Calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulates human villous trophoblast cell differentiation in vitro Mol. Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2006; 12(7): 443 - 450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S Thakor, M. R Bloomfield, M Patterson, and D. A Giussani Calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonism attenuates the haemodynamic and glycaemic responses to acute hypoxaemia in the late gestation sheep fetus J. Physiol., July 15, 2005; 566(2): 587 - 597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S Thakor and D. A Giussani Calcitonin gene-related peptide contributes to the umbilical haemodynamic defence response to acute hypoxaemia J. Physiol., February 15, 2005; 563(1): 309 - 317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]