Development of the main and accessory placentae in the Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus.
The placentae of the Japanese long-fingered bat were characterized by their morphological and functional transition from the main placenta to the accessory placentae. The main placenta transformed from an endotheliodichorial to a haemodichorial (one layer of syncytiotrophoblast and one layer of cytotrophoblast cells) condition. Degeneration of the main placenta was accompanied by development of two accessory placentae. These developed on both sides (fetal side) of the main placenta, and subsequently converted from a haemodichorial (two layers of cytotrophoblast cells) to a haemomonochorial condition.
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010920:Placenta / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy