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Immunoelectron microscopy of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) in the syncytiotrophoblast of human placenta, clarifying the nature of the So-called large dense bodies

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Abstract

The synthetic and secretory processes of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) were investigated by immunoelectron microscopy which included the use of the double immunolabeling technique. The syncytiotrophoblast contains three kinds of granules: Small-sized granules (SG), middle-sized granules (MG), and large dense bodies (LB). Immunoreactions of hCG are localized in the MG and LB, while those of hPL are in the SG and LB. The double immunolabeling method proved without a doubt that hCG and hPL do not co-exist in the same SG or MG, but they are co-localized in the LB. This means that hCG and hPL are separately sorted into different secretory granules in the Golgi apparatus, but the LB are a kind of cytolysosome which are involved in the uptake and storage of both hPL and hCG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, 807, Kitakyushu, Japan

    Kunshige Hamasaki & Masamichi Kashimura

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, 807, Kitakyushu, Japan

    Yoshiaki Doi & Sunao Fujimoto

  3. Laboratory of Electron Microscope, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, 807, Kitakyushu, Japan

    Mitsuru Yokoyama

Authors
  1. Kunshige Hamasaki
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  2. Yoshiaki Doi
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  3. Mitsuru Yokoyama
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  4. Masamichi Kashimura
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  5. Sunao Fujimoto
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Hamasaki, K., Doi, Y., Yokoyama, M. et al. Immunoelectron microscopy of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) in the syncytiotrophoblast of human placenta, clarifying the nature of the So-called large dense bodies. Med Electron Microsc 26, 133–138 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348039

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348039

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