Restriction of placental vasculature in a non-human primate: a unique model to study placental plasticity.
The limits of placental plasticity, i.e., the ability of the placenta to adapt and alter its growth trajectory in response to altered fetal requirements, are not known. We report fetal and placental hemodynamic adaptations in a novel non-human primate model in which the fetal inter-placental bridging vessels were surgically ligated. Doppler ultrasound studies showed that the rhesus placenta compensates for an approximate 40% reduction in functional capacity by increased growth and maintenance of umbilical volume blood flow. This unique experimental animal model has applications for mechanistic studies of placental plasticity and the impact on fetal development.
Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA. robertsv@ohsu.edu
V H J
VH
Roberts
J P
JP
Räsänen
M J
MJ
Novy
A
A
Frias
S
S
Louey
T K
TK
Morgan
K L
KL
Thornburg
E R
ER
Spindel
P L
PL
Grigsby
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D021041:Placental Circulation; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy