Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2026
Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
Quantitative (stereological) study of placental structures in women with pregnancy iron-deficiency anemia
1Morphometric Research Laboratory, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637007, China.
Objective:
To determine the compensatory morphometric changes of placental structures in cases of maternal iron-deficiency anemia.
Methods:
Placentas were obtained from a random sample of 26 full-term pregnant women, and methacrylate-embedded vertical sections were utilized to estimate parameters of placental structures with stereological methods. Materials were divided into three groups based on maternal hemoglobin levels: anemic (hemoglobin<100g/l), intermediate and non-anemic (hemoglobin>or=110g/l).
Results:
Placental volume and absolute volume of the intervillous space or the chorionic villi per placenta significantly increased in the anemic group. There was a significant negative correlation between maternal hemoglobin level and absolute volume or surface area of the intervillous space or the villi. No significant difference, however, was found between the groups in the volume fraction or surface density of placental structures.
Conclusion:
Placental hypertrophy was associated with mild and moderate degree of maternal iron-deficiency anemia and the enlargement of placenta appeared to be a uniform (proportional) physiological compensatory growth.