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Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Research Through Single Cell Sequencing and Spatial Histology in Placental Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2023
Placenta Biology, Future Cardiovascular Health, and Impact on the Maternal-Fetal Heart
Meenakshi Rana1, Una Rose Wilcox1, Suchita Nadkarni1
1Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre for Biochemical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The placenta is a highly specialized organ that ensures the developing fetus gets adequate oxygen and nutrients from its mother. The placenta shares common development pathways with the fetal heart and releases factors that can influence the way the mother's heart functions. Thus, pregnancy complications, where the placenta fails to develop properly, can lead to the development of fetal heart defects and induce long-term maternal cardiac dysfunction. In this review, we focus on how the placenta shapes cardiac events during development and the subsequent long-term impact on the offspring's heart. We also touch upon the potential role the placenta plays in maternal heart function.
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