Comparison of Oxytocin Receptor Immunoreactivity in Placentas Obtained From Women Having Cesarean and Natural Birth

The aim of this study was to compare oxytocin receptor (OXTR) immunoreactivity in placentas obtained from women having cesarean and natural birth. The study samples consisted of placentas of 32 mothers who had 16 natural birth (control) and 16 cesarean (case) birth in Kars Harakani State Hospital and Kafkas University Health Research and Application Hospital. At the beginning of the study, 40 placentas obtained in total, 5 were not included in the study due to mismatched blood, 2 were not included in the study after the chronic disease (thyroid, Behçet's disease) detected, and 1 was not included in the study due to the presence of accessory placenta. The means of binary variables were determined by applying the Independent Two-Sample T-Test. Pearson Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the variables. Periodic acid-Schiff staining, H&E and Triple staining techniques were applied to tissue samples obtained from placentas for histological examination. OXTR primary antibody was used for immunohistochemical examination. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of histological examination. In the study, it was found that OXTR immunoreactivity was strong in decidual cells and stromal cells in villi. A stronger OXTR immunoreactivity was detected in villous stroma of placenta of the natural birth group compared to the cesarean birth group. Reaction was not observed in syncytotrophoblast cells and syncytial nodes in both groups, but strong immunoreaction was observed fetal endothelial cells and fetal capillaries in both groups. As a result, it is thought that the placenta pathology should be made routine for every birth because it gives information about the offspring.