Morphological interactions of human first trimester placental villi co-cultured with decidual explants.
Abnormalities of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation are characterized by shallow trophoblastic invasion of the placental bed, the precise molecular pathophysiology of which remains to be fully elucidated. An in-vitro model involving a co-culture of first trimester placental villi and decidua parietalis explants (of 8-12 weeks gestation) was developed and used to characterize the migration and local invasion of trophoblast cells. Trophoblast proliferation (confirmed by Ki-67 immunostaining), differentiation and loose attachment of placental villi to the underlying decidual epithelium or stroma occurred within the first 24 h of co-culture. This was followed by erosion of the syncytial layer of the placental villi and commencement of a progressive cytotrophoblast invasion after 48 h of co-culture, which continued until 120 h, when the experiments were terminated. E-cadherin was expressed at the interfaces between trophoblast cells within the villi, but expression of this adhesion molecule seemed to be down-regulated in the invasive trophoblast cells. Our results suggest that the model could be useful in investigating the factors that control early human placentation and the feto-maternal interface.
Babawale
M O
MO
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
Van Noorden
S
S
Pignatelli
M
M
Stamp
G W
GW
Elder
M G
MG
Sullivan
M H
MH
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins