Gol, MertTuna, Burcin2025-01-272025-01-2720080378-73461423-002Xhttps://doi.org/10.1159/000161570https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12428/23673Objective: Pregnant women with female fetuses have higher maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels compared to those pregnant women with male fetuses. Apoptosis in the placenta has a role in hCG secretion. In the present study, we examined the effect of fetal gender on apoptosis-regulating proteins in the trophoblast cells of human term placenta. Study Design: 34 uncomplicated, singleton, term pregnancies, 17 had male and 17 had female fetuses, were recruited in the study. Apoptosis-regulating proteins of the trophoblast cells were measured by using immunohistochemistry for Bcl-2 and Bax. Staining index values were compared between the female and male pregnancies. Results: There were no sex differences in Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. There were no correlations between maternal serum and cord blood hCG levels, and staining index values of two proteins in trophoblast cells. Conclusions: The difference in maternal serum and cord blood hCG levels in correlation with fetal sex is not associated with apoptosis-regulating proteins in the trophoblast cells of human term placenta. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Baseleninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessFetal genderhCGBcl-2BaxArticle671535610.1159/000161570Q3WOS:0002612924000112-s2.0-5324909067618843185Q2