Cytotrophoblast induction of arterial apoptosis and lymphangiogenesis in an in vivo model of human placentation
J. Clin. Invest. Kristy Red-Horse, et al. 116:2643 doi:10.1172/JCI27306 [Go to this article.]

Figure 2
Endometrial lymphangiogenesis occurs during human pregnancy. (A–E) Immunostaining tissue sections of the nonpregnant endometrium (A) and the pregnant endometrium/decidua (B–E, diagrammed in G) with the lymphatic endothelial-specific marker LYVE-1 revealed that these lymphatic vessels (LV) were present only in the pregnant uterus. Nuclei were stained with DAPI. Glands (A and B) and cytotrophoblasts (D and E) were labeled with an antibody that reacts with cytokeratin. (C) LYVE-1 also labeled cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, including Hofbauer cells, within the placenta. (F) LYVE-1–positive vessels (arrows) were excluded from the decidua during murine pregnancy. (G) Diagram showing the decidual regions analyzed in the coordinately labeled panels: decidua parietalis (B), decidua basalis (C), and decidua capsularis (E). Dots indicate the placenta. Scale bars: 200 μm (A–C, E, and F); 50 μm (D and inset in C).