The effect of progesterone administration on the expression of metastasis tumor antigens (MTA1 and MTA3) in placentas of normal and dexamethasone-treated rats.

Background: Dexamethasone (DEX) induces intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in pregnant rats. IUGR can occur due to apoptosis of trophoblasts, which is believed to be inhibited by progesterone (P4). A group of genes called MTAs play a role in proliferation and apoptosis.