In vitro perfusion study of the human placenta at term: preliminary results

Dual perfusion of the human placental lobule in vitro is a useful method for studying the transfer of molecules across the placenta, including the transfer of endogenous substances and xenobiotics. To establish the first model of in vitro placental dynamic study in our country, we used a dual recirculating perfusion system modified from that described by Miller et al. A placental lobule without tears or gross lesions was chosen. Both the fetal and maternal sides of the placenta were perfused with Medium 199 in addition to heparin, glucose, dextran and antibiotics. Perfusate samples were obtained periodically and analyzed for blood gas, glucose, lactate, human placental lactogen (hPL) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The stability of this human placental lobule preparation during 10 hours of perfusion was reflected by the stability of the arterial pressure and by the constant volume in the fetal compartment. A constant rate of oxygen was delivered by the maternal circulation system, and a steady rate of oxygen was gained by the fetal circulation system. Neither oxygen nor glucose consumption by the tissue was significantly reduced during the period of perfusion. The releasing rates of hCG and hPL did not change significantly during perfusion. The development of this dual perfusion system for the human placenta can provide for the study of placental hemodynamics and transplacental transport in perinatal medicine in our country.