Figure 7.

MMP-12 expression in cultured VSMCs and excised human spiral arties. Serial sections of first-trimester placenta (n = 5) and decidua basalis (n = 8) were immunostained with control IgG (A), an antibody to cytokeratin-7 (CK-7; B, C) or HLA-G (I) to detect trophoblasts, an antibody to α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) to detect VSMCs (G and H), or an antibody to MMP-12 (carboxyl-terminal) (D–F, J–L). Sections were counterstained with hematoxylin. Scale bar = 50 μm. Serial sections: (A and D), (B and E), (C and F), (G and J), (H and K), (I and L). EC indicates endothelial cells; vCTB, villous cytotrophoblasts; VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell; eEVT, endovascular extravillous trophoblasts.