Human decidual production of hepatocyte-growth factor is not influenced by trophoblastic invasion in vivo.

Objective: To evaluate and compare production of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) from human first-trimester implantation-site decidua (decidua basalis) and nonimplantation site decidua (decidua parietalis), and hence to determine whether human trophoblast invasion in vivo is associated with increased decidual HGF production.

Design: Controlled prospective study.

Setting: University hospital-based study.

Patient(s): Ten women undergoing first-trimester termination of singleton pregnancy for psychosocial reasons without preexisting medical or gynecologic diseases.

Intervention(s): Decidual samples surgically excised and processed for paraffin-embedded immunohistochemistry and for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Protein and mRNA production in decidua basalis and decidua parietalis by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively.

Result(s): No statistically significant difference was found between decidua basalis and decidua parietalis in HGF protein or mRNA production. Immunohistochemical analysis (n = 9) showed a mean score of 3.28 +/- 2.37 for decidua basalis and 3.61 +/- 2.66 for decidua parietalis. Semiquantitative analysis of HGF mRNA expression between the two sites showed no statistically significant difference (n = 10)

Conclusion(s): Human decidual production of HGF is not influenced by trophoblastic invasion in vivo.