Immunohistochemical Investigation of Autophagy in the Uterus during the First Trimester of Pregnancy in Rats

Abstract

During placental development, autophagy has an important role at the molecular level, especially in cases such as trophoblast cell proliferation and cell death. Abnormal placental development due to trophoblast dysfunction causes serious gynaecological diseases and various fetal malformations. In the study conducted to investigate autophagy on the 5th day of pregnancy, in the pregnant and non pregnant group uterus tissues, uterine glands LC3 and Beclin 1 (+), in the evaluation of myometrium and perimetrium, weak (+) was observed in myometrium cells in pregnancy, while (+) reaction could not be distinguished in perimetrium. In this study, it was concluded that the immunohistochemical increase in LC3 and Beclin 1 intensity in the uterus, especially in the endometrial areas in the first trimester of pregnancy compared to the control group tissues is related to the physiology of pregnancy, homeostasis in pregnancy and hormonal mechanism.