PURPOSE OF REVIEW The lifelong stream of all blood cells originates from the pool of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) generated during embryogenesis. Given that the placenta has been recently unveiled as a major hematopoietic organ that supports HSC development, the purpose of this review is to present current advances in defining the origin and regulation of placental HSCs. RECENT FINDINGS Th...

During pregnancy, the placenta forms the interface between mother and fetus. Highly controlled regulation of trans-placental trafficking is therefore essential for the healthy development of the growing fetus. Extracellular vesicle-mediated transfer of protein and nucleic acids from the human placenta into the maternal circulation is well documented; the possibility that this trafficking is bi-...

The placenta is a key organ in fetal growth and development because it controls maternal-to-fetal exchanges of nutrients and hormones. It also interferes with drug delivery to the fetus by expressing active membrane transporters and xenobiotic metabolism enzymes. Developing strategies to understand the role of the placenta in drug delivery is a challenge in toxicology. Despite common physiologi...

INTRODUCTION Placenta percreta is associated with maternal morbidity and mortality. A hysterectomy is often needed to control the bleeding in such cases. However, it has been advocated that placenta percreta be managed conservatively to avoid massive pelvic bleeding and to preserve the patient's fertility. Here, we present a case of placenta percreta diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, and...

P-cadherin is a subclass of Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules present in mouse placenta, where its localization suggests a function of connecting the embryo to the uterus (Nose, A., and M. Takeichi. 1986. J. Cell Biol. 103:2649-2658). We recently identified a human cadherin detected by an mAb capable of disrupting cell-cell adhesion of A-431 cells, and found that it was closely relate...

abstract background: previous studies have shown that morphine consumption during pregnancy may delay embryo development or cause abnormal nervous system function. objective: the present study focused on the effect of maternal morphine consumption on development of placenta and blood corticosteron concentration in addictive pregnant mothers. materials and methods: 24 female rats, 170-200g weigh...

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) was purified to homogeneity from human term placenta, an organ characterized by extensive angiogenesis. N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed that placental PD-ECGF was proteolytically processed at Thr-6, in contrast to PD-ECGF purified from human platelets, which is processed at Ala-11. The purified factor stimulated porcine aortic ...

Total water content and chloride concentration were measured in embryo, placenta and decidua from 90 early human pregnancies. The total water content of the embryo and placenta is greater than that of the decidua, and decreases with increasing gestational age. The chloride content of the decidua, placenta and embryo, and by implication the extracellular fluid space, does not change between the ...

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is transmitted from the infected mother to the placenta and fetus. Virus replicates in the decidua, invasive cytotrophoblasts that breach the uterine vasculature and villous cytotrophoblasts underlying syncytiotrophoblasts, then reaches blood vessels in the villus core. Virus replication, fibrosis, and edema result in a hypoxic intrauterine environment and...

The placenta is a large, highly vascularised hematopoietic tissue that functions during the embryonic and foetal development of eutherian mammals. Although recognised as the interface tissue important in the exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products between the foetus and mother, the placenta has increasingly become a focus of research concerning the ontogeny of the blood system. Here, w...