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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Variation in composition of the intervillous space lining in term placentas of mothers with pre-eclampsia
1Laboratory for Developmental Cell Sciences, Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, United Kingdom.
Objective(S):
To define composition of chorionic plate and test effects of pre-eclampsia on basal plate composition.
Study Design:
Retrospective cohort study where distinct area fractions were measured in: healthy term chorionic plate (CP: n = 11), healthy placental basal plate (n = 11), mild pre-eclamptic basal plate (n = 10) and severe pre-eclamptic basal plate (n = 11).
Results:
CP lining is partly endothelial. Mean anchoring villus (AV)/acellular (NS) basal plate area ratio decreased in pre-eclampsia (p = 0.048). There was a decreasing trend with increasing disease severity. Basal plate endothelial cell proportion was not significantly lower in severe pre-eclampsia than in healthy or mild pre-eclamptics.
Conclusion(S):
An inverse relationship between the proportions of fibrin and anchoring villi indicates that increased basal plate fibrin deposition and reduced basal plate materno-fetal anchoring area are part of pre-eclamptic disease progression. Endothelium lining intervillous surfaces may originate from circulating maternal endothelial progenitor cells.
