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Folate affects apoptosis in human trophoblastic cells
Author(s) -
SteegersTheunissen R. P. M.,
Smith S. C.,
Steegers E. A. P.,
Guilbert L. J.,
Baker P. N.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb11677.x
Subject(s) - apoptosis , in vitro , andrology , fetus , microbiology and biotechnology , pregnancy , biology , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , genetics
Effects of folate deficiency on the rate of apoptosis in human cytotrophoblastic cells has been investigated. Apoptosis was determined in cytotrophoblastic cells after culture in 1. control medium, 2. folate‐free medium and 3. folate‐free medium plus 10% fetal calf serum. Apoptosis rates in cells cultured in mediums 2 and 3 were significantly higher than those cultured in the control medium ( P < 0.02 and P < 0.03 , respectively). In conclusion, human cytotrophoblastic cells show a significantly increased rate of apoptosis in vitro after culture in a folate‐free medium. Possible explanations for the association between folate deficiency and pregnancy complications are suggested.