Autoradiographic Localization and Characterization of Angiotensin II Receptors in the Bovine Placenta and Fetal Membranes¹

^a Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark

Autoradiography and angiotensin (Ang) II receptor binding studies showed that all parts of the bovine placenta and fetal membranes contained high densities of Ang II receptors throughout gestation. The receptors were predominantly subtype 2 (AT₂) receptors in the fetal and subtype 1 (AT₁) receptors in the maternal compartment. In the allantoamnionic membrane, Ang II receptors were evenly distributed in the mesenchymal tissue, with the highest expression around the few arteries. In the intercotyledonary and cotyledonary allantochorionic membrane, AT₂ receptors as well as the less-expressed AT₁ receptors were located on mesenchymal cells, especially adjacent to the allantoic endoderm, trophoblast cell layer, and arteries. In the mesenchymal tissue of the placentome, Ang II receptors were mostly expressed at the main branches of the fetal villi of the cotyledons. In the maternal part of the placentome, mainly AT₁ receptors but also low densities of AT₂ receptors and non-AT₁/non-AT₂ Ang II binding sites were found close to the stalk and at the main branches of the maternal crypts. Autoradiography revealed no changes in the pattern of distribution of the Ang II receptors throughout gestation. It is suggested that Ang II has an effect on regulatory as well as growth processes in these tissues.

¹ This study was partially supported by grants from the Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council, the Nordic Insulin Fund, and the NOVO Fund.

² Correspondence: Kirsten H. Schauser, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 13 Bülowsvej, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. FAX: 45-35282525; kirsten.h.schauser{at}iaf.kvl.dk

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