Fetal Death, Miscarriage Linked To Genetic Mutation

The original article stated that recent scientific discovery in Colombus, Ohio, have shown that genetic mutation, a cause of childhood cancer, retinoblastoma could disrupt placental functions which cause fetal death and miscarriage in laboratory animals, a fact that calls for further research on Rb gene’s link with cancer. Cancer is usually diagnosed thru tissue biopsy with the use of binocular biological microscopes.

A normally-functioning Rb gene, first identified as suppressing the overgrowth of cells, is believed by scientists as a key in controlling cell division and is probably linked to processes when cell malfunction begins. While it is a known fact that two mice with two Rb defective genes develop neutral and structural disorders or die subsequently after during gestational period, questions arise why there are such particular defects and why. Wrong direction in studies seems to give the wrong answer.

Gustavo Leone, geneticist, wrote in Nature (Feb. 27 issue) that “fetal death is due to structural changes in the placenta induced by gene mutation.” Such critical observation by research team member was brought about by working with mice deprived of protein called E2F3 using high powered binocular biological microscopes. Alain de Bruin, a co-member observed that mouse placentas deficient in E2F3 looked so different when viewed under high-powered binocular biological microscopes.

R6 pathway studies using high powered binocular biological microscopes show that absence of E2F3 and two other proteins caused cell proliferation and placental defects, and probably the same things happens with the absence of the Rb gene.

They proved their hypothesis, according to the original article, by comparison of placentas of normal mice with those having Rb mutation. They found that in one groups of normal placentas, one of its three layers called labyrinth is neat and well ordered while in the other group layer called tropholast grew uncontrolled by disrupting embryonic growth when samples were studied using high-powered binocular biological microscopes. Moreover in the Rb deficient group, proliferation of the trophoblasts reduced by some 40% the area where nutrient transfer between mother and fetus takes place.

Mutated mice also showed a decrease in the amount of fatty acids essential for growth. By creating a mutated mouse with a normal placenta, they turned out mice cured of anemia and with no abnormal cell death in the brain. So that, through manipulation, embryos lacking a functional Rb gene can be brought to birth if given normal placenta.

It was concluded that despite these new discoveries, the relationship between mutation and growth needs to be explored further.

A team of Gustavo Leone, geneticist, Ohio, University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G.James, Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Soloue, Research Institute and senior author of the study, conducted these studies according to the original article.