Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Trophoblast Cell Recovery from Angiogenesis-Tube Formation Assay for Differentiation Marker Expression Analysis
Published on: November 8, 2024
Abnormal development of the vasculosyncytial membrane in early pregnancy failure
Babette A M Lisman1, Kees Boer, Otto P Bleker
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Spaarne Ziekenhuis Haarlem, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Objective:
To investigate chorionic villous vasculogenesis (maturation) and development of the vasculosyncytial membrane (margination) using CD34 immunohistochemistry.
Design:
Case-control study.
Setting:
Microscopic analysis of first trimester chorionic villi.
Patient(S):
Twelve patients with anembryonic pregnancies, 12 with embryonic death, and 12 with terminated normal pregnancies.
Intervention(S):
Quantitative analysis of chorionic villi blinded to group and gestational age using CD34 immunohistochemistry.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Vascular parameters (mean functional vascular area, vessels with a lumen, and hemangiogenetic cords, peripherally or centrally located).
Result(S):
Terminated normal pregnancies show significantly more vessels per chorionic villus (maturation) (mean +/- SEM) in comparison with embryonic deaths and anembryonic pregnancies (5.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.2 and 0.7 +/- 0.1), located mainly peripherally (margination) (3.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 0.2 +/- 0.0). Anembryonic pregnancies show significantly more centrally located cords in comparison with embryonic deaths and termination of pregnancies (3.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.2 and 1.5 +/- 0.1).
Conclusion(S):
A defective chorionic villous vascularization, demonstrating inadequate vasculogenesis and abnormal development of the vasculosyncytial membrane, is seen in pregnancies complicated by embryonic death and is even more pronounced in anembryonic pregnancies. Initiation of placental vasculogenesis is a basic feature in all types of pregnancy and is subsequently modulated directly or indirectly by embryonic signaling.
Related Concept Videos
Development of Blood Vessels
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
Teratogenicity
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Cleavage and Blastulation
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Diabetic Retinopathy

