Partial hydatidiform moles have impaired differentiated function (human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen secretion) in response to epidermal growth factor and 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
OBJECTIVE: The null hypothesis is that partial hydatidiform moles have normal differentiated function (human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen secretion) in response to epidermal growth factor and 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate. STUDY DESIGN: Two complete moles, 10 partial hydatidiform moles, and 19 normal first-trimester placentas in monolayer culture were exposed to 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 1 mmol/L 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate plus 1 mmol/L theophylline, or control. Human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen secretion was measured. Frequency of response to stimuli was compared by chi 2 analysis, and hormone secretion was compared by analysis of variance. RESULTS: Partial moles demonstrated reduced frequencies of response of human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen to epidermal growth factor (partial moles 2/8 and 2/8, respectively; normal placentas 16/19 and 7/18, respectively; p less than 0.025) and of human chorionic gonadotropin to 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (partial moles 3/5, normal placentas 13/16; p less than 0.005). CONCLUSION: Partial hydatidiform moles demonstrate impaired human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen secretory responsiveness to epidermal growth factor and cyclic nucleotides in comparison with normal first-trimester trophoblast.