Gratz M, et al. - This study compared the placentas of spontaneous (SM) and recurrent miscarriages (RM) in comparison to healthy controls with regard to L-dopa-decarboxylase (DDC) and D2-dopamine receptor (D2R) expression. Patients with SM and RM were compared with patients from healthy pregnancies (pregnancy weeks 7-13 each). Data revealed lower levels of DDC and D2R in trophoblasts and the decidua in RM in comparison to healthy controls. It was inferred that the downregulation of DDC and D2R in trophoblasts of recurrent miscarriages reflected a reduced signal cascade of catecholamines on the fetal side.