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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface

Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface

Published on: July 21, 2016

Colonization of second-trimester placenta parenchyma.

Andrew B Onderdonk¹, Jonathan L Hecht, Thomas F McElrath

¹Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

|March 4, 2008

Summary

The healthy uterus harbors bacteria, with colonization increasing in preterm labor cases. Microorganism presence in the placenta correlates with fetal inflammation markers.

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Obstetrics
Perinatology

Background:

The healthy, nonpregnant uterus contains bacteria, including Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma.
The extent of uterine bacterial colonization and its association with preterm labor and fetal inflammation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence of microorganisms in placental tissue.
To explore the relationship between microbial colonization, preterm delivery, gestational age, and fetal inflammatory responses.

Main Methods:

Cultured biopsy specimens from 1083 placentas delivered before 28 weeks gestation.
Histological examination of placentas.
Evaluation of microorganism frequencies in relation to delivery mode, gestational age, and placental morphology.

Main Results:

Bacterial recovery was lowest (25%) in placentas from cesarean sections with preeclampsia.
Preterm labor cases showed the highest rates of microbial colonization (79% at 23 weeks, decreasing to 43% at 27 weeks).
Placental microbial presence was linked to neutrophils in fetal vessels of the chorion and umbilical cord.

Conclusions:

High rates of microbial colonization are associated with preterm delivery and gestational age.
The presence of microorganisms within placental parenchyma is biologically significant and may indicate fetal inflammation.