Histologic characteristics of cells cultured from rat placental tissue.
Laboratory animals, especially rats, have provided a comparative model for extensive research on maternal-fetal relationships. To identify individual placental cells for subsequent immunologic analysis, cultures of rat placentas were studied. Five cell types were observed, including: two histologically distinct giant cells, mononucleate and multinucleate, apparently formed by amitosis and fusion, respectively; small round cells; polygonal cells, probably cytotrophoblasts. Of particular interest are the small round cells which are phagocytic and morphologically similar to macrophages, cells known to be important in the immune response.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology