Histopathology of fused triplet placenta in rat

A fused triplet placenta was observed in a Wistar Hannover rat on gestation day 15. Each placenta (referred to as PL-A, PL-B, and PL-C) of this fused placenta was attached to one fetus each, but their fetal weights were lower than that of the fetus attached to the only normal placenta (referred to as PL-N) in this dam. Histopathologically, thinning of the trophoblastic septa and dilatation of the maternal sinusoid in the labyrinth zone were observed in PL-B and PL-C, but not in PL-A or PL-N. The points of placental fusion were at the junctional zone derived from each side of the placenta without connective tissues, and the septum was composed of trophoblastic giant cells. Although PL-A had a solitary metrial gland, PL-B and PL-C shared one metrial gland with one spiral artery terminus branching towards each labyrinth zone.