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Placental Expression of Substance P and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide: Evidence for a Local Effect on Hormone Release

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (D.M.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Torino, 10127 Torino, Italy; Institute of Normal Human Morphology (D.M., A.G., F.V., M.C.), Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, I-60020 Ancona, Italy; Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (G.F., P.F., F.P.), Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; and Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Sanità Pubblica (M.N.), University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Mario Castellucci, M.D., Institute of Normal Human Morphology-Anatomy, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto, 10/a, I-60020 Ancona, Italy. E-mail: anatomia2{at}univpm.it.

The present study evaluated vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) mRNA expressions and the localization of both peptides in first- and third-trimester human placentas. VIP and SP mRNAs were detected by slot blot analysis in first- and third-trimester placental tissues. By immunohistochemistry both neuropeptides were localized in the trophoblast (syncytium and cytotrophoblastic cells) of the chorionic villi.

Because little information is available on the role of VIP and/or SP on the secretion of placental hormones, we investigated the effect of these neuropeptides on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone release from primary cultured human trophoblastic and JEG-3 cells. The addition of increasing doses of VIP resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of hCG release from cultured human trophoblast and JEG-3 cells. Increasing doses of VIP also dose-dependently stimulated progesterone secretion from primary cultured trophoblastic cells at all time points evaluated and from JEG-3 cells only after 3 h. SP did not affect hCG and progesterone secretion either in cultured human trophoblast or in JEG-3 cells.

In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that VIP and SP are mainly expressed in human trophoblasts, and that VIP modulates the in vitro secretion of hCG and progesterone, suggesting a different role in trophoblastic function of the two peptides.

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