title: Fetal and maternal blood volumes in shed human placentae: discrepant results comparing morphometry to haemoglobin content.
abstract: The maternal blood volume (MBV) and fetal blood volume (FBV) of shed human placentae delivered by caesarean section at term were measured using a morphometric technique and from the placental content of adult and fetal haemoglobin. MBV was 35.3 +/- 1.5 (s.e.m.) per cent by the former and 11.0 +/- 1.5 per cent by the latter technique. FBV was 11.0 +/- 0.7 and 9.0 +/- 0.6 per cent respectively (n = 6). Measurement of the dimensions of individual villi initially photomicrographed in 0.9 per cent NaCl and subsequently re-photographed in fixative suggested that individual villi shrank to 0.7 of their initial volume during fixation. It is suggested that morphometric measurement of MBV may lead to approximately a threefold overestimate because of relative MBV expansion and villous tissue shrinkage during the process of fixation without alteration in overall placental volume.
mesh_terms: D001810:Blood Volume; D002196:Capillaries / Q000032:analysis; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000032:analysis / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005404:Fixatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D006454:Hemoglobins