title: Rat placentation: an experimental model for investigating the hemochorial maternal-fetal interface.
abstract: The rat possesses hemochorial placentation with deep intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion and trophoblast-directed uterine spiral artery remodeling; features shared with human placentation. Recognition of these similarities spurred the establishment of in vitro and in vivo research methods using the rat as an animal model to address mechanistic questions regarding development of the hemochorial placenta. The purpose of this review is to provide the requisite background to help move the rat to the forefront in placentation research.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. msoares@kumc.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Karim Rumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Renaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology