Modeling human peri-implantation placental development and function†

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Stem Cell Biology

Background:

• Human implantation and early placental development are poorly understood due to limited access to peri-implantation stage pregnancies.
• Existing animal and in vitro models for studying human placentation have significant limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and discuss two contemporary models for studying human peri-implantation placental development: extended blastocyst culture and stem-cell derived trophoblast culture.
• To highlight current research utilizing these models and their future potential for investigating the critical "black box" stage of early human pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• Extended blastocyst culture: Culturing human blastocysts for extended periods to observe early post-implantation events.
• Stem-cell derived trophoblast culture: Differentiating human stem cells into trophoblast cells to model placental development.

Main Results:

• These models provide novel avenues for investigating the earliest stages of human placental formation.
• They overcome limitations of previous models, offering better accessibility to the peri-implantation period.

Conclusions:

• Extended blastocyst culture and stem-cell derived trophoblast culture represent significant advancements in studying early human placental development.
• These models hold promise for unraveling the complexities of the "black box" period in human pregnancy, advancing reproductive science.