title: Early studies of placental ultrastructure by electron microscopy.
abstract: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was first applied to study placental ultrastructure in the 1950's. We review those early studies and mention the scientists that employed or encouraged the use of TEM.
  
  
  
  Among the pioneers Edward W. Dempsey was a key figure who attracted many other scientists to Washington University in St. Louis. Work on human placental ultrastructure was initiated at Cambridge and Kyoto whilst domestic animals were initially studied by Björkman in Stockholm and electron micrographs of bat placenta were published by Wimsatt of Cornell University.
  
  
  
  Prior to the introduction of better fixation techniques, TEM images were of modest technical quality. Nevertheless they gave important insights into placental ultrastructure, particularly the nature of the maternal-fetal interface.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Renal Physiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 21, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: acarter@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Enders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000266:history*; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010920:Placenta / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000648:ultrastructure
keywords: Endotheliochorial placentation; Epitheliochorial placentation; Haemochorial placentation; History of science; Ultrastructure; Yolk sac