title: Ultrastructure of cellular components of human trophoblasts during early pregnancy.
abstract: Two cell types, the cyto- and syncytio-trophoblasts, were identified in human chorionic villi of 6-10 weeks' gestation. The intracellular organization of these cells was examined. Ultrathin sections of small pieces of chorionic villi revealed the presence of a multinucleate syncytiotrophoblastic layer, whose surface was covered with microvilli. The cytotrophoblasts, however, had a single large nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. An interesting feature of the basement membrane of these cells was the presence of aggregates of dark granules in samples of the earlier gestational age (6-8 weeks) and granular bodies having a dense outer ring and a translucent inner ring with a lucid central area in samples of 8-10 weeks' gestation. Both types of granules are mineralized and are assumed to perform a buffering role for maintaining the neutrality of the layer.
authors: Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jaggi
authors: P K
authors: PK
authors: Mehrotra
authors: S C
authors: SC
authors: Maitra
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Agarwal
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Das
authors: V P
authors: VP
authors: Kamboj
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure