The Immunohistochemical Localization of New Membrane-Associated Placental Tissue Proteins (MP2 A, B, C, D, and E) in Human and Cynomolgus Monkey Placentae

New membrane-associated placental tissue proteins (MP2 A, B, C, D, and E) were investigated by avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique in the human and cynomolgus monkey placentae, decidua and umbilical cords. In human early placentae, MP2 A, B, C, and E were localized mainly in the membrane of villous syncytiotro-phoblasts and cytotrophoblasts. Histiocytes in the villous stroma were positive for MP2 A, B, D, and E. In human term placentae, obvious positive staining for MP2 A, B, C, and E was observed in the membrane of villous syncytiotrophoblasts, in the amniotic epithelium, and in the umbilical cord sheath. Histiocytes in the villous stroma were positive for MP2 A, B, C, E, and especially for MP2 D. Importantly, MP2 A, C, and E were positive in polymorphonuclear neutrophils, since most of these common antigens are also carcinoma-associated, suggesting clinical usage of MP2 proteins as a new tumor marker. In the cynomolgus monkey placentae, similar immuno-staining results were obtained. The monkey can thus serve as a experimental model for the investigation of the placental proteins.