关键词: 细胞凋亡, 血清素

Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on apoptosis of cultured human cytotrophoblast cells and its possible mechanism involved in pathogenesis of pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome. Methods Human cytotrophoblast cells from three term pregnancy (37-39 weeks) women were cultured and divided into four groups: normal control group, 5-HT groups (0.1,1 and 10 μmol·L^-1). The cells were cultivated for 3,6,12 and 24 h, respectively. Apoptotic index was measured by TdT-mediated biotinyated-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and morphological features of apoptotic cells were observed under electron microscope. Results When cells were cultivated for 3,6,12 and 24 h, compared with the normal control group (1.21±0.97,2.30±1.24,3.89±2.32 and 7.34±5.59,respectively), apoptotic indexes of cytotrophoblast cells in 10 μmol·L^-1 5-HT group were significantly increased (8.40±2.48,17.82±5.43,29.53±7.41,45.56±12.10, respectively)（P<0.05）；the apoptotic indexes in 1 μmol·L^-1 5-HT group were increased to 17.96±3.48 and 23.76±8.47（P<0.05） when cells were cultivated for 12 and 24 h; but there was no significant difference between 0.1 μmol·L^-1 5-HT group and ic cytotrophoblast cells in various groups were found under electron microscope. Apoptotic cytotrophoblast cells were obviously compact and the chromatins were formed as mass and apoptotic bodies were also found under electron microscope. Conclusion 5-HT can promote the apoptosis of human cytotrophoblast cells and its mechanism may be correlated with pregnancy induced-hypertension syndrome.

Key words: apoptosis, serotonin