Intravascular Hematopoiesis in Chorionic Villi

Abstract

Mitotic figures can be found in the immature blood cells in the fetal vessels of placental tissue in abortion specimens. Intravascular mitoses were noted only in the absence of degenerative changes and during the first trimester of gestation. This finding suggests that the vascular component is a normal site of hematopoiesis during this stage of development.