DEMONSTRATION OF TRANSFERRIN RECEPTORS ON HUMAN PLACENTAL TROPHOBLAST

Abstract

The transplacental passage of maternal Fe to the developing fetus may require binding of maternal transferrin to the trophoblast. The ability of the human placenta to bind transferrin in vitro was examined. Transferrin was demonstrated on trophoblast of human chorionic villi by immunohistologic methods. After removal of transferrin bound in vivo by treatment of tissue with chaotropic solution or phosphate-buffered saline, freshly added transferrin bound to in vitro in the same characteristic distribution. Placental Fe transport is apparently initiated by uptake of maternal transferrin Fe to specific trophoblast binding sites.