Human Placenta Contains Neurotensin: Immunohistochemical Evidence

The human placenta exhibits unique structural and multifunctional features. It is known to have the capacity to synthesize, store and secrete hormones of the hypothalamohypophyseal axis, but the existence of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the human placenta has attracted a great deal of attention. This is especially important when it is considered that the placenta is a non-innervated organ. During extensive investigations on the human trophoblast, we conceived that it would be interesting to study whether the placenta contains neurotensin, a tridecapeptide first detected in bovine hypothalamic extracts. The present contribution describes immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of neurotensin in the villous cytotroblasts of the early human placenta.