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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
14:19
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
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The placenta in fetal growth restriction: What is going wrong?
Cherry Sun1, Katie M Groom2, Charlotte Oyston1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.
Placenta
|May 19, 2020
Summary
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is linked to placental dysfunction, affecting nutrient and oxygen delivery. This review details FGR placental pathophysiology, focusing on trophoblast cell abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Developmental biology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- The placenta is vital for maternal-fetal nutrient and oxygen exchange, crucial for fetal development.
- Placental dysfunction underlies pregnancy complications like fetal growth restriction (FGR).
- FGR placentae are smaller and exhibit maldeveloped villi and vasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of FGR placental pathophysiology.
- To focus on the role of trophoblast cells in FGR.
- To synthesize data from stereology, in vitro studies, and imaging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing stereological data.
- Inclusion of in vitro experimental findings.
- Analysis of imaging studies on FGR placentae.
Main Results:
- FGR placentae show macroscopic and microscopic abnormalities.
- Trophoblast cells in FGR placentae display altered proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence.
- Reduced trophoblast colonization of decidual tissue is observed in FGR.
Conclusions:
- Placental maldevelopment, particularly in trophoblasts, significantly contributes to FGR.
- Aberrant placental changes in FGR impair nutrient and oxygen exchange, limiting fetal growth.
- Understanding trophoblast dysfunction is key to addressing FGR pathophysiology.
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