title: Comparative electron microscopy of chorio-allantoic placental barrier in some Indian Chiroptera.
abstract: In the present study the comparative ultrastructure of the definitive chorio-allantoic placental barrier has been studied in considerable detail in six species of bats, representing six different families and both suborders of Chiroptera, by electron microscopy, and these species illustrate different kinds of interhaemal membranes met with among bats. The definitive chorio-allantoic placenta of Rousettus leschenaulti is haemodichorial, since the syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast layers are present to term. The fine structure of the placental barrier in the labyrinth of the definitive placenta of Rhinopoma hardwickei hardwickei is essentially endotheliomonochorial due to the presence of a single layer of cytotrophoblast and maternal endothelial cells. The placenta of Taphozous melanopogon, examined electron-microscopically in the present study, shows a thick maternal endothelium, a continuous interstitial membrane and the presence of a single layer of syncytiotrophoblast. The placenta of Megaderma comprises a typical endotheliochorial labyrinth and the presence of two layers of trophoblast. In Rhinolophus rouxi, the mature placenta during advanced pregnancy resembles that of Megaderma, its labyrinth containing large maternal capillaries with maternal endothelial cells and the two layers of trophoblast. Finally, the placental barrier of Hipposideros fulvus fulvus is haemodichorial due to the presence of two layers of trophoblast and the absence of maternal endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Bombay, India.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bhiwgade
mesh_terms: D000481:Allantoin; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D002823:Chorion / Q000098:blood supply*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D000481:Allantoin