Abstract

 

Mast cells are the most constant components of the connective tissue and their presence in human placenta and umbilical cord has been described. The biological functions of mast cells in the human placenta and umbilical cord have not been well understood. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the number of mast cells of the umbilical cord in complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies. Umbilical cords obtained from 38 patients with either complicated (premature rupture of the membranes, pregnancy induced hypertension, fetal distress) or uncomplicated term pregnancies were collected immediately after spontaneous vaginal delivery or cesarean section. The mean number of mast cells from the different portion of umbilical cord were similar in all samples. There was no significant increase in the mean number of mast cells of the umbilical cord collected from uncomplicated term pregnancies delivered spontaneous vaginally compared to cesarean section. Any significant correlation was not detected in the mean number of mast cells of the umbilical cord collected from complicated pregnancies. The number of mast cells of the umbilical cord were not seemed to be affected from pregnancy complications. [Journal of Turgut Özal Medical Center 1998;5(1):43-46]

KeyWords: Mast cells, umbilical cord