The ultrastructure of human trophoblast in spontaneous and induced hypoxia using a system of organ culture. A comparison with ultrastructural changes in pre-eclampsia and placental insufficiency.

Abstract

Summary The ultrastructural changes in normal trophoblast maintained in organ culture are described. In well oxygenated conditions the fine structural integrity of the trophoblast is maintained up to 96 hours, and the tissue appears to function normally. Hypoxia quickly damages the syncytium and marked changes occur throughout the trophoblast, including apparent attempts at regeneration. These experimentally produced changes in hypoxia are very similar to the ultrastructural placental bnormalities already described in pre-eclampsia, and more so to the placental abnormalities in placental insufficiency, which are described here for the first time. These similarities suggested that hypoxia is a primary aetiological factor in these conditions rather than an effect of the primary disease process.