BACKGROUND Placentas of guinea pig-related rodents are appropriate animal models for human placentation because of their striking similarities to those of humans. To optimize the pool of potential models in this context, it is essential to identify the occurrence of characters in close relatives. METHODS In this study we first analyzed chorioallantoic placentation in the prea, Galea spixii, a...

Imprinted genes have prominent effects on placentation; however, there is limited knowledge about the manner in which the genes controlled by two paternally methylated regions on chromosomes 7 and 12 contribute to placentation. In order to clarify the functions of these genes in mouse placentation, we examined transcription levels of the paternally methylated genes, tissue differentiation and d...

Placenta plays multi-functions in embryo-uterine dialogue through facilitating gas and nutrient exchange, providing an immunological barrier between the fetus and mother and secreting hormones and growth factors to regulate pregnancy. The successful formation and development of placenta requires invasion and differentiation of trophoblast cells, and any defects would result pregnancy related di...

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether the addition of maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) measured at 19-24 weeks' gestation improves the performance of screening for stillbirth that is achieved by a combination of maternal factors, fetal biometry and uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and to evaluate the performance of screening with this model for all stillbirths and those due to...

We propose and evaluate the hypothesis that parent-offspring conflict over the degree of maternal investment has been one of the main selective factors in the evolution of vertebrate reproductive mode. This hypothesis is supported by data showing that the assumptions of parent-offspring conflict theory are met for relevant taxa; the high number of independent origins of viviparity, matrotrophy ...

Following implantation in rodents, the uterine stromal fibroblasts differentiate into densely packed decidual cells. This process, called decidualization, is well-orchestrated and progresses both antimesometrially and mesometrially, creating two regions with distinctive cellular morphologies. In addition, subsequent placental development is dependent on the invasion of the trophoblast, the proc...