AJP - Regu Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280: R1116-R1122, 2001;
0363-6119/01 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (28)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Simán, C. M.
Right arrow Articles by Greenwood, S. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Simán, C. M.
Right arrow Articles by Greenwood, S. L.
Vol. 280, Issue 4, R1116-R1122, April 2001

The functional regeneration of syncytiotrophoblast in cultured explants of term placenta

C. M. Simán1, C. P. Sibley1, C. J. P. Jones2, M. A. Turner1, and S. L. Greenwood1

1 Academic Units of Child Health and 2 Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Manchester, St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester M13 0JH, United Kingdom


    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

We have investigated the functional characteristics of term human placental villous explants kept in long-term (7-11 days) culture. Fragments of placental villous tissue (~5-10 mg wet wt) were cultured in supplemented CMRL-1066 culture medium for up to 11 days. After the first day of culture, the syncytiotrophoblast appeared vacuolated and eventually degenerated. However, a new syncytiotrophoblast developed by day 4, being indistinguishable from that of a fresh placenta by 11 days. Release of human chorionic gonadotrophin increased and activity of lactate dehydrogenase in culture medium decreased with culture time. Transport variables were measured over the first 7 days of culture. Basal 86Rb efflux was reduced with time in culture and was inhibited by Ba2+, suggesting the efflux was mediated by K+ channels. At all stages of culture, 86Rb efflux was stimulated by ATP, hyposmotic medium, and ANG II. A complex pattern of efflux changes with culture time and type of stimulator was observed, suggesting that several compartments of the tissue contributed to stimulated efflux. This culture system provides opportunities for studies of chronic regulation of placental function.

explant culture; potassium transport; angiotensin II; adenosine 5'-triphosphate; osmolality


    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

THE CYTOTROPHOBLAST AND SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLAST layers of the placenta are dynamic over the course of pregnancy. This is seen, for example, in changes in morphology (2), in human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) secretion (28), and in the expression and activity of transport proteins (3, 5). This capacity for change indicates that the trophoblast has mechanisms that enable it to respond appropriately to its environment. Furthermore, the interaction between cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast apparently allows repair mechanisms in response to damage (16).

Acute (over hours) regulation of transport mechanisms in the trophoblast is known to occur, for example, for ions (27) and amino acids (8, 10, 11), but it is not well characterized. Chronic (over days) regulation is even more poorly understood but may be particularly important in view of the changes in transport activity that occur over the whole course of pregnancy (21). A preparation of isolated cytotrophoblast cells in primary culture could provide a useful system for studying such chronic regulation. However, it has been argued that such cells suffer from the disadvantage of not achieving terminal differentiation (19) and of being divorced from potentially important interactions with other components of the normal villus. A second possibility is to place fragments of villous tissue in explant short-term culture. However, a recent study suggests that the viability of such explants of term placenta rapidly decreases after ~4 h in culture (24). On the other hand, it has been reported that, although the syncytiotrophoblast of first-trimester explants degenerates initially, it then regenerates over a period of days in culture (17, 31).

The purpose of the present study was to characterize both morphologically and functionally villous explants of term placenta over the course of up to 11 days in culture. We investigated morphology at both the light and electron microscope level. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was assayed in the culture medium as a measure of cellular integrity, and hCG secretion was measured to assess endocrine function. To determine the transport activity of the explants, we measured 86Rb efflux as a tracer of K+ transport (29).


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Tissue culture. Placentas were obtained at term from the delivery unit of St. Mary's Hospital (Manchester, UK) following normal pregnancies, delivered vaginally or by caesarean section. The culture system was developed from procedures of Trowell (26) and Watson et al. (30). Within 30 min of delivery, chorionic villi were dissected out and carefully rinsed in sterile Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline with calcium chloride and magnesium chloride (37°C; Sigma) to remove maternal blood. The placental tissue was cut into pieces weighing ~5 mg. Three such pieces were cultured in individual Costar Netwell (15-mm diameter, 74 µm mesh; Corning, Corning, NY) supports in 1.5 ml of culture medium (CMRL-1066, 5% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 100 IU/ml penicillin, 100 µg/ml streptomycin, 1 µg/ml insulin, 0.1 µg/ml hydrocortisone, and 0.1 µg/ml retinyl acetate; Sigma). The tissue was supported on the mesh in the liquid-gas interface. Cultures were maintained at 37°C in a humidified gas mixture of 5% CO2 and 95% air, and medium was changed every 24 h. Supernatants were collected and analyzed freshly for LDH or stored at -20°C for hCG analysis. The cultures were maintained for up to 7 or 11 days for functional and morphological evaluation, respectively. Cultures with apparent bacterial contamination were interrupted and excluded.

Morphological evaluation. For inspection of morphology, placental explants were harvested and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer with pH 7.3 for 3 h, washed in buffer containing 3 mM calcium chloride, and stored in this buffer at 4°C until further processing. The specimens were then cut into two or three pieces and postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide in 0.05 M sodium cacodylate buffer with pH 7.3 for 1 h at 4°C. After being rinsed in buffer, the pieces were dehydrated in an ascending alcohol series, incubated in two 15-min changes of propylene oxide, and infiltrated with Taab embedding resin (Taab Laboratories Equipment, Aldermaston, UK) before polymerization in gelatin capsules at 60°C for 72 h. Sections, 0.5 µm thick, were cut, mounted on glass slides, and stained with 1% toluidine blue 0 in 1% borax. Suitable areas were selected, and ultrathin sections were cut and mounted on copper grids, contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate before examination in a Philips EM 301 electron microscope at an accelerating voltage of 60 kV. Electron micrographs were obtained of the areas of trophoblast.

Analysis of collected culture medium. The concentration of hCG in culture medium was assessed by quantitative immunoradiometric determination using a commercially available kit (hCG solid phase component system, ICN Pharmaceuticals, Costa Mesa, CA). The hCG assay uses the "sandwich technique" where the solid phase binds the alpha subunit of hCG and a radiolabeled antibody in the liquid phase binds to the beta subunit.

LDH activity in fresh culture medium was measured daily. Conversion rate of NAD to NADH at 37°C was measured as the change of absorbance at 340 nm over 2 min (LDH/LD reagent kit, Sigma).

Protein measurement. After lysis of the cultured placental explants in deionized water, membrane-bound protein content was measured by dissolving the tissue in 4 ml 0.3 M NaOH. Two times 80-µl samples from each dissolved explant were mixed with 320 µl 0.3 M NaOH, 400 µl 0.3 M HCl, and 200 µl Bio-Rad reagent (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hemel Hempstead, UK) and vigorously mixed. Optical density was measured at 595 nm.

86Rb efflux. 86Rb efflux has been widely used as a tracer of K+ fluxes (23, 29). Efflux of 86Rb from the explants was measured using a technique modified from Shennan (20). All efflux procedures were performed with the placental tissue in the Netwells where they were cultured. At 0, 2, 4, and 7 days of culture, the placental tissues were incubated at 37°C in 4 ml of buffer [135 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl2, 1.8 mM CaCl2, 5.6 mM glucose, 10 mM HEPES (acid), pH 7.4, osmolality 290 mosmol/kgH2O] with the addition of 86Rb (45 µM, 5 µCi/ml; Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) for 90 min. After incubation, the explants were washed in 2 ml buffer (with no added isotope) for 2 × 10 min. Subsequently, 4 ml of buffer were changed and collected every 2 min for 30 min at 37°C. In some experiments, efflux was inhibited by addition of Ba2+ (BaCl, 5 mM) or stimulated by ATP (0.1 µM Na2ATP; Sigma), hyposmotic buffer (55 mM NaCl, 138 mosmol/kgH2O), or ANG II (10 µM; Sigma) after 10 min of basal efflux collection and throughout the experimental period. Preliminary experiments with fresh placenta fragments showed that maximal 86Rb efflux response was achieved with the agonist concentration used here (22). Effluxed 86Rb was measured in a beta-counter (Packard 2000 CA). The tissue was lysed in deionized water overnight, and nonmembrane-bound 86Rb was measured in the supernatant. This count represents the effluxable fraction of 86Rb taken up by the tissue during the incubation phase minus that which effluxed during washing and experimentation. Percent 86Rb efflux was calculated as 86Rb counts in the efflux samples per the calculated effluxable counts at each time point. For analysis of 86Rb data, it was assumed that efflux would reflect a predominant pathway from a predominant compartment at steady state. Thus efflux in control situations (and in the presence of Ba2+, which is likely to have a predominant effect on a single pathway) was measured by a first-order rate constant. Under this assumption of a single predominant process, rate constants for 86Rb efflux were calculated for the period of 30-50 min as the slope of a regression line for the log of effluxable counts per initial effluxable counts at each time point.

After stimulation of efflux in response to ATP, ANG II, and hyposmotic buffer, the assumption of a simple first-order process could not be maintained. Accordingly, alternative methods were used: 1) visual inspection of the time course of efflux, 2) area under the curve of the peak, calculated by subtracting the corresponding control from the stimulated explants for the period of 30-50 min after loading, and 3) repeated-measurement ANOVA (full factorial model).

All data are given as means ± SE. Statistics were calculated using the SPSS software package.


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Morphology. Light microscopic examination of semithin sections of the explants revealed progressive degeneration of the original syncytiotrophoblast layer and its replacement by a newly formed layer. This layer gradually thickened as new syncytiotrophoblast was regenerated, whereas the original syncytium was sloughed off and lost. This regrowth was first evident by 3-4 days of culture.

At the ultrastructural level, it could be seen that, even after 1 day in culture, the syncytiotrophoblast had become vacuolated and was tending to lift away from the underlying cytotrophoblast and/or basement membrane (Fig. 1A). Syncytial nuclei appeared apoptotic, whereas the microvilli on the surface were either lost or showed severe blebbing. In contrast, the cytotrophoblast cells appeared relatively normal. By 4 days in culture, the original syncytium was highly degenerated, whereas the area of new growth was composed of newly divided cytotrophoblast cells, as shown by the presence of cells with large, pale nuclei, often overlaid by more basophilic mononuclear cells that exhibited surface microvilli and many of the cytoplasmic features of syncytiotrophoblast (Fig. 1B, day 4). After 7 days in culture, there was evidence of syncytiotrophoblast development, indistinguishable from the original tissue, with well-developed microvilli covering areas that were clearly syncytial in nature, overlying intermediate cells and a population of cytotrophoblast cells. Remnants of the original syncytium were still present in places (Fig. 1C). By 11 days, there was a thick, healthy-looking layer of newly grown syncytiotrophoblast, with a dense coat of microvilli and many cytoplasmic secretory droplets. The ultrastructural characteristics of the tissue appeared to be identical to those found in the intact placenta (9). Much of the original tissue was now lost, although apoptotic nuclei and shreds of vacuolated cytoplasm could still be found in places, sometimes in close contact with the underlying regenerating layer (Fig. 1D). The cells of the mesenchymal core maintained a surprisingly high level of preservation during the period of study. In general, there was some thickening of the trophoblastic basement membrane and increased villous fibrosis over time in culture, with some breakdown and congestion of intravascular erythrocytes, but, otherwise, the standard of ultrastructural integrity was high.


View larger version (144K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 1.   A: explant culture after 1 day in culture, showing degeneration and detachment of the syncytiotrophoblast (S) that has apoptotic nuclei (N) and loss of surface microvilli. The underlying cytotrophoblast (C), where present, appears to be relatively normal. B: after 4 days in culture, the C, which is now multilayered, shows differentiation with the development of new microvilli (arrowheads) and increasing amounts of rough endoplasmatic reticulum. C: after 7 days in culture, there is evidence of new S development with a well-developed microvillous surface; C and intermediate cells (I) can also be seen. Remnants of the old detached S are present overlying the new growth. D: by 11 days, the S is well developed with many secretory droplets (arrowheads) and a dense covering of microvilli. An I is also present. Part of the old S still adheres to the new growth. Scale bars represent 5 µm.

hCG and LDH release from cultured placental explants. During the first day of culture, the release of hCG into the medium dropped quickly (data not shown). From the second day of culture, release of hCG into the medium increased, reaching a plateau by ~5 to 6 days of culture (Fig. 2). LDH release from the explants declined rapidly during the first 2 days of culture and then remained low until interruption of culture at 7 days (Fig. 3).


View larger version (10K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 2.   Release of human chorionic gonadotrophin to the culture medium per 24 h of culture. Data are means ± SE of 7 placentas.



View larger version (7K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 3.   Activity of lactate dehydrogenase in culture medium per 24 h of culture. Data are means ± SE of 8 placentas.

Rubidium efflux. The basal percentage efflux of 86Rb remained fairly constant from 30 min onward in control explants (Fig. 4). When the rate constants were calculated for each experimental run, in every case the correlation coefficient exceeded 0.99. The rate constant of efflux in control conditions showed a decreased 86Rb efflux with the number of days in culture (Table 1; repeated-measurement ANOVA for 3 placentas giving data for all 4 time points, F = 8.516, P < 0.02). After the addition of Ba2+ at 30 min, the mean rate constant for efflux was -0.0077 ± 0.00059 on day 0 and -0.0061 ± 0.00012 on day 7. This was significantly different from control on day 7 (1-way ANOVA, F = 20.5, P < 0.001). On day 0, Ba2+ reduced the mean efflux compared with control, but this did not reach statistical significance due to the high variability on day 0 (1-way ANOVA, F = 3.671, P < 0.1).


View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 4.   Efflux of 86Rb from explants after 0 (), 2 (triangle ), 4 (open circle ), and 7 days (×) of culture in the control group. Data are means ± SE of 3 placentas.


                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1.   Rate constant of 86Rb efflux in control placental explants over 30-50 min

Addition of ATP or ANG II to the buffer or reduction of buffer osmolality all stimulated 86Rb efflux (Fig. 5).


View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 5.   Efflux of 86Rb from explants after 0 (), 2 (triangle ), 4 (open circle ), and 7 days (×) of culture. Efflux was stimulated by addition of ATP (A), hyposmotic buffer (B), or addition of ANG II (C) from 30 min onward. Data are means ± SE of 3 placentas.

The ATP-stimulated efflux increased with the number of days the explants had been in culture, when expressed either as a peak response over nonstimulated efflux (Fig. 5A; 1-way ANOVA, P < 0.02) or area under the curve in the experimental period (Fig. 6), although the latter was not statistically significant due to the high variability on day 0. The shape of the stimulated efflux was similar at all time points of culture.


View larger version (21K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 6.   Area under the peak of stimulated 86Rb efflux from cultured explants (day 0, black bars; day 2, cross-hatched bars; day 4, hatched bars; and day 7, white bars). The peak area was calculated by subtracting efflux of the corresponding control explants from the stimulated explants. ANOVA did not reveal any significant changes with time in culture. Data are means ± SE of 3 placentas.

The efflux peak response to hyposmotic buffer increased (1-way ANOVA, P < 0.02) and occurred faster with the number of days of explant culture (Fig. 5B). However, the recovery after the peak was faster with older explants, resulting in no change in total efflux (area under the curve) between fresh and 7-day cultured explants (Fig. 6).

By contrast, the peak efflux following administration of ANG II increased from day 0 to days 2 and 4, but, then at day 7, it returned to almost day 0 response (Fig. 5C). Total efflux in the presence of ANG II was at a maximum after 2 days in culture (Fig. 6).


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

When placental tissues are kept in culture, the syncytiotrophoblast tends to degenerate over the first few days. Sooranna et al. (24) found intracellular vacuoles in the syncytiotrophoblast of first- and third-trimester placental explants after 8 h in culture at the ultrastructural level. Similar degeneration in first-trimester explants was noted after 24 and 48 h of culture by Palmer et al. (17), but, by 48 h, a newly formed trophoblast layer was found that was further developed after 5 days of culture. Histological examinations of cultured placental explants have reported a "prominence" of the cytotrophoblast as seen in the light microscope (7, 25). The current report supports the previous findings and expands them by showing that the trophoblast degeneration/regeneration does occur in explants from term placenta and that the newly formed syncytiotrophoblast layer continues to develop and remain viable for at least 11 days in culture.

Our data suggest that the degeneration of the old syncytiotrophoblast may occur by apoptosis; typical features of this process including chromatin condensation and membrane blebbing were observed (Fig. 1). Furthermore, the appearance of the nuclei in the new syncytiotrophoblast suggests that they are derived from division and fusion of cytotrophoblast cells. The improved integrity of the explants with time in culture is further indicated by reduction of LDH release into the medium. In addition, the development of the new syncytiotrophoblast over time was paralleled by increasing hCG release from the explants. This is in contrast to the observation of a direct correlation between LDH and hCG release in first-trimester placental explant cultures as reported by Watson et al. (30).

To further characterize the functional integrity of the cultured explant, we measured 86Rb efflux because of the importance of K+ in cellular homeostasis. There was a decrease in control, basal 86Rb efflux with number of days in culture. This reduction in basal 86Rb efflux with time in explant culture may be explained by initial damage to the original syncytiotrophoblast and its degeneration, followed by the formation of the new intact syncytiotrophoblast and consequent reduction of nonspecific leak. Alternative explanations could be that driving forces or channel activities alter with time in culture. We have previously shown that Ba2+ depolarizes the microvillous membrane potential difference in fresh villous fragments (1). Ba2+ inhibited basal 86Rb efflux from cultured explants in the present study, indicating that a component of the efflux is conducted via K+ channels and that this component remains the same over the time of culture. The Ba2+-insensitive efflux is likely to result from other transport routes as well as "leak" across the membranes. A disadvantage of using villous explants for efflux experiments is that the tracer may not be coming solely from the syncytiotrophoblast. However, the high correlation coefficient for rate constants over 30-50 min suggests that 86Rb efflux originated predominantly from one compartment under control conditions during this time period.

We showed previously that ATP, ANG II, and hyposmotic medium stimulate 86Rb efflux from villous fragments in short-term culture (<4 h) (22). All of these agents act via intracellular signaling involving Ca2+ (12, 18) and were studied to verify functional integrity of the cultured explants in response to a regulatory challenge.

In trophoblast cells, ATP is most likely acting on purinoceptors with its effect mediated via inositol trisphosphate and Ca2+ to open Ca2+-activated K+ channels in the plasma membrane (12). In primary cultures of cytotrophoblast cells, ATP-stimulated K+ efflux is charybdotoxin sensitive but apamin insensitive in response to ATP (4). In the current study, responsiveness to ATP (whether measured as peak response or total efflux) increased with time in culture, following the course of regeneration of the syncytiotrophoblast, indicating either improved ATP sensitivity of the cells or presence of more ATP-sensitive cells with time in culture.

The hyposmotic medium used for stimulating 86Rb efflux was designed to mimic cell swelling secondary to the rise in intracellular osmolality, which occurs during nutrient uptake (6). Hyposmotic solutions provoke an increase in cell volume, activation of transport mechanisms extruding ions (particularly K+ and Cl-), and subsequent return of cell volume to normal (a regulatory volume decrease). Volume-activated K+ efflux appears to be at least partially mediated by a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in cytotrophoblast cells (28). The peak response to hyposmotic buffer increased with time in culture, again approximating the time course of regeneration of the syncytiotrophoblast. However, as the efflux returned to baseline faster with time in culture, the total 86Rb efflux over the experimental period did not change significantly with the time in culture. This may suggest that the combination of cell types contributing to the hyposmotic stimulated 86Rb efflux changes with time in culture or that time in culture influences the nature and/or regulation of pathways in volume regulation.

In contrast to ATP and hyposmotic stimulated efflux, ANG II-stimulated efflux was highest on the second day of culture and then diminished. Furthermore, total 86Rb efflux during exposure to ANG II tended to decrease with days in culture. Specific binding sites for ANG II (AT1 receptor) are present on both syncytiotrophoblast (14) and placental vascular muscle homogenates (13, 15). Karl et al. (12) found that only 8% of isolated trophoblast cells responded to ANG II in terms of a rise in intracellular Ca2+, whereas 100% so responded to ATP. Thus it may be that the effect of ANG II on 86Rb efflux from the villous explant is of mixed origin, with the predominant response from nontrophoblast cells. The reduced ANG II stimulation with time could be explained by regeneration of a new syncytiotrophoblast layer that prevents ANG II from reaching the mesenchyme and mediating its predominant effect. Another potential mechanism affecting the shape of the ANG II-induced efflux may be tachyphylaxis in response to the high dose used in this experiment. In fresh placental fragments, doses of 1 and 10 µM ANG II induced a similar response (with a peak rapidly tailing off), whereas a dose of 10 nM ANG II initiated a steady but small increase in efflux throughout the experimental phase (unpublished observation).

Perspectives

Taken together, the 86Rb efflux data suggest improved integrity and responsiveness of the explants with time in culture over the 7 days studied. This improvement coincides with restoration of normal morphology and increasing hCG release from the explants, suggesting that the placental tissue has been able to "repair" the severe trauma caused by preparation in terms of receptor expression, second messenger activation, volume homeostasis, and endocrine function. It is, however, impossible at this stage to estimate to what extent the new trophoblast layer mimics the in vivo placenta, although, by morphological criteria, the two are indistinguishable. We suggest that this preparation might be valuable for studying death and repair of the syncytiotrophoblast and for investigating chronic regulation of function, including transport physiology. The explants have the advantage of retaining the normal spatial relationships between the various cell types of the villus but the disadvantage for transport studies that several components might contribute to the observed fluxes. However, this might be overcome by following transport activity in relation to degeneration and regeneration of the syncytiotrophoblast.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to the Central Delivery Unit at St. Mary's Hospital (Manchester, UK) for the kind supply of placentas. This study was funded by Scotia Pharmaceuticals.


    FOOTNOTES

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: S. L. Greenwood, Academic Unit of Child Health, Univ. of Manchester, St. Mary's Hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester M13 0JH, United Kingdom (E-mail: sgreen{at}fs1.mci.man.ac.uk).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 8 July 2000; accepted in final form 8 December 2000.


    REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

1.   Birdsey, TJ, Boyd RDH, Sibley CP, and Greenwood SL. Effect of hyposmotic challenge on microvillous membrane potential in isolated placental villi. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 276: R1479-R1488, 1999[Abstract/Free Full Text].

2.   Boyd, J, and Hamilton W. Development and structure of the human placenta from the end of the 3rd month of gestation. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw 74: 161-226, 1967[Medline].

3.   Boyd, R, Glazier J, Greenwood S, and Sibley C. Some gestational changes in placental transfer of ions. A review. Trophoblast Res 9: 75-85, 1997.

4.   Clarson, LH, Roberts VHJ, and Greenwood SL. Charybdotoxin-sensitive 86Rb+ efflux from human placental cytotrophoblast cells. J Physiol (Lond) 528: 20P, 2000.

5.   Glazier, JD, Atkinson DE, Thornburg KL, Sharpe PT, Edwards D, Boyd RD, and Sibley CP. Gestational changes in Ca2+ transport across rat placenta and mRNA for calbindin9K and Ca(2+)-ATPase. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 263: R930-R935, 1992[Abstract/Free Full Text].

6.   Haussinger, D, Lang F, and Gerok W. Regulation of cell function by cellular hydration state. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 267: E345-E355, 1994.

7.   Hustin, J, and Gaspard U. Comparison of histological changes seen in placental tissue cultures and in placentae obtained after fetal death. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 84: 210-215, 1977[ISI][Medline].

8.   Jayanthi, L, Ramamoorthy S, Mahesh V, Leibach F, and Ganapathy V. Substrate-specific regulation of the taurine transport in human placental choriocarcinoma cells. Biochim Biophys Acta 1235: 351-360, 1995[Medline].

9.   Jones, CJP, and Fox H. Ultrastructure of the normal human placenta. Elect Microsc Rev 4: 129-178, 1991[ISI][Medline].

10.   Karl, P, Alpy K, and Fisher S. Insulin-like growth factor 1 stimulates amino acid uptake by the cultured human placental trophoblast. J Cell Physiol 165: C83-C88, 1995.

11.   Karl, PI, Alpy KL, and Fisher SE. Amino acid transport by the cultured human placental trophoblast: effect of insulin on AIB transport. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 262: C834-C839, 1992[Abstract/Free Full Text].

12.   Karl, PI, Chusid J, Tagoe C, and Fisher SE. Ca2+ flux in human placental trophoblasts. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 272: C1776-C1780, 1997[Abstract/Free Full Text].

13.   Kingdom, J, McQueen J, Connel J, and Whittle J. Fetal angiotensin II levels and vascular peptide receptors in normal and growth-retarded human placentae. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 100: 476-482, 1993[ISI][Medline].

14.   Li, X, Shams M, Zhu J, Khalig A, Wilkes M, Whittle M, Barnes N, and Ahmed A. Cellular localization of AT1 receptor mRNA and protein in normal placenta and its reduced expression in intrauterine growth restriction. J Clin Invest 101: 442-454, 1998[ISI][Medline].

15.   McQueen, J, Kingdom J, and Jardine A. Vascular angiotensin II and atrial natriuretic peptide receptors in normal and growth-retarded human placentae. J Endocrinol 126: 341-347, 1990[Abstract/Free Full Text].

16.   Nelson, DM, Crouch EC, Curran EM, and Farmer DR. Trophoblast interaction with fibrin matrix. Epithelialization of perivillous fibrin deposits as a mechanism for villous repair in the human placenta. Am J Pathol 136: 855-865, 1990[Abstract].

17.   Palmer, ME, Watson AL, and Burton GJ. Morphological analysis of degeneration and regeneration of syncytiotrophoblast in first trimester placental villi during organ culture. Hum Reprod 12: 379-382, 1997[Abstract/Free Full Text].

18.   Petit, A, and Bélisle S. Stimulation of intracellular calcium concentration by adenosine triphosphate and uridine 5'-triphosphate in human term placental cells: evidence for purinergic receptors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80: 1809-1815, 1995[Abstract].

19.   Quinn, G, Boam DS, Davis JR, Glazier JD, Mylona P, Sides K, and Sibley CP. The human placenta expresses transcription enhancer factor-1 but there is no correlation with the expression of placental lactogen. J Mol Endocrinol 16: 205-210, 1996[Abstract/Free Full Text].

20.   Shennan, DB. Anion transport by human placenta: a study of chloride and sulphate efflux from isolated placental tissue fragments. Placenta 13: 489-499, 1992[ISI][Medline].

21.   Sibley, C, Birdsey T, Brownbill P, Clarson L, Doughty I, Glazier J, Greenwood S, Hughes J, Jansson T, Mylona P, Nelson D, and Powell T. Mechanisms of maternofetal exchange across the human placenta. Biochem Soc Trans 26: 86-91, 1998[ISI][Medline].

22.   Sibley, C, Greenwood S, Glazier J, Sides M, and Turner M. Regulation of Cl- and K+ transport by the human placenta (Abstract). Placenta 19: A8, 1998.

23.   Sjodin, RA. Rubidium and cesium fluxes in muscle as related to the membrane potential. J Gen Physiol 42: 983-1003, 1959[Abstract/Free Full Text].

24.   Sooranna, SR, Oteng-Ntim E, Meah R, Ryder TA, and Bajoria R. Characterization of human placental explants: morphological, biochemical and physiological studies using first and third trimester placenta. Hum Reprod 14: 536-541, 1999[Abstract/Free Full Text].

25.   Tao, TW, and Hertig AT. Viability and differentiation of human trophoblast in organ culture. Am J Anat 116: 315-328, 1963.

26.   Trowell, O. A modified technique for organ culture in vitro. Exp Cell Res 6: 246-248, 1954.

27.   Turner, M, Sides M, Sibley C, and Greenwood S. Anion efflux from cytotrophoblast cells derived from normal, term, human placenta is stimulated by hyposmotic challenge and extracellular A23187 but not by membrane soluble cAMP. Exp Physiol 84: 27-40, 1999[Abstract].

28.   Van de Put, FHH, Greenwood SL, and Sibley CP. Effect of hyposmotic cell swelling on (Ca2+) in human placental cytotrophoblast cells in culture (Abstract). Placenta 17: A15, 1996.

29.   Venglarik, CJ, Bridges RJ, and Frizzell RA. A simple assay for agonist-regulated Cl- and K+ conductances in salt-secreting epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 259: C358-C364, 1990[Abstract/Free Full Text].

30.   Watson, AL, Palmer ME, and Burton G. Human chorionic gonadotrophin release and tissue viability in placental organ culture. Hum Reprod 10: 2159-2164, 1995[Abstract/Free Full Text].

31.   Watson, AL, Palmer ME, and Burton GJ. An in vitro model for the study of wound healing in first-trimester human placenta. Cell Tissue Res 286: 431-438, 1996[ISI][Medline].


Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280(4):R1116-R1122
0363-6119/01 $5.00 Copyright © 2001 the American Physiological Society



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
J. L. R. Williams, G. K. Fyfe, C. P. Sibley, P. N. Baker, and S. L. Greenwood
K+ channel inhibition modulates the biochemical and morphological differentiation of human placental cytotrophoblast cells in vitro
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2008; 295(4): R1204 - R1213.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.Home page
K. Forbes, M. Westwood, P. N. Baker, and J. D. Aplin
Insulin-like growth factor I and II regulate the life cycle of trophoblast in the developing human placenta
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, June 1, 2008; 294(6): C1313 - C1322.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.Home page
A. M. Carter
Maintaining the integrity of trophoblast during growth of the placenta. Focus on "Insulin-like growth factor I and II regulate the life cycle of trophoblast in the developing human placenta"
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, June 1, 2008; 294(6): C1303 - C1304.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.Home page
M. U. Baumann, S. Zamudio, and N. P. Illsley
Hypoxic upregulation of glucose transporters in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): C477 - C485.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
E. D. Johnstone, C. P. Sibley, B. Lowen, and L. J. Guilbert
Epidermal Growth Factor Stimulation of Trophoblast Differentiation Requires MAPK11/14 (p38 MAP Kinase) Activation
Biol Reprod, December 1, 2005; 73(6): 1282 - 1288.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Reproductive SciencesHome page
G. J. Burton and E. Jauniaux
Placental Oxidative Stress: From Miscarriage to Preeclampsia
Reproductive Sciences, September 1, 2004; 11(6): 342 - 352.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Reproductive SciencesHome page
S. J. Merchant, I. P. Crocker, P. N. Baker, D. Tansinda, S. T. Davidge, and L. J. Guilberg
Matrix Metalloproteinase Release From Placental Explants of Pregnancies Complicated by Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Reproductive Sciences, February 1, 2004; 11(2): 97 - 103.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Pathol.Home page
I. P. Crocker, S. Cooper, S. C. Ong, and P. N. Baker
Differences in Apoptotic Susceptibility of Cytotrophoblasts and Syncytiotrophoblasts in Normal Pregnancy to Those Complicated with Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Am. J. Pathol., February 1, 2003; 162(2): 637 - 643.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
J. P. Granger
Maternal and fetal adaptations during pregnancy: lessons in regulatory and integrative physiology
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, December 1, 2002; 283(6): R1289 - R1292.
[Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (28)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Simán, C. M.
Right arrow Articles by Greenwood, S. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Simán, C. M.
Right arrow Articles by Greenwood, S. L.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online