Cultured human trophoblast cells reproduce the initial events of placental biology.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine whether cultured trophoblast cells shared the same morphological and biological properties observed in trophoblast, in vivo.


METHODS
Trophoblast cells from human term placenta were cultured, morphologically, biochemically and immunochemically monitored for as long as 30 days.


RESULTS
Single cells progressively aggregated and fused into a syncytio, the Ca2+ and the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity drooped, and the 72 kDa collagenase (MMP-2) was consistently expressed.


CONCLUSIONS
Term placenta trophoblast cultures can be viewed and used as a model system mimicking morphological and biochemical events of placenta biology and differentiation.
Garbisa
S
S
Institute of Histology and General Embriology, University of Padova, Italy.
Onisto
M
M
Mazzanti
L
L
Tranquilli
A L
AL
Pugnaloni
A
A
Biagini
G
G
Cester
N
N
Romanini
C
C
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium