Carbon monoxide disposition and permeability-surface area product in the foetal circulation of the perfused term human placenta.
In order to estimate the placental barrier to gas transfer, a novel carbon monoxide (CO) wash-in method was used to estimate the permeability-surface area (PS) product for the transfer of gas across the foetal circulation in the perfused human term placenta. The PS product for CO was 0.0096+/-0.006 ml/s/g or 0.012+/-0.007 ml/s/g using compartmental or Crone-Renkin analysis, respectively. Using this result and a published estimate of the placental capillary surface area, the permeability coefficient to CO across the foetal circulation was found to be approximately 4 x 10(-5)cm/s. This result is compatible with the hypothesis that the foetal circulation of the human placenta imposes a potentially significant barrier to gas transfer.
Sangalli
M R
MR
The Canberra Clinical School, University of Sydney, 2605 Australia. msangalli@wnmeds.ac.nz
Mclean
A J
AJ
Peek
M J
MJ
Rivory
L P
LP
Le Couteur
David G
DG
D000328:Adult; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010477:Perfusion; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013499:Surface Properties
D002248:Carbon Monoxide