Ultrastructure of the syncytiotrophoblast of the human term placenta in EPH-gestosis

The ultrastructure of normal full-term placentae and of placentae of patients with EPH-gestosis was studied. To minimalize artificial changes puncture biopsies during cesarian section were performed. The main ultrastructural alterations in cases of EPH-gestosis can be summarized as follows: loss of the characteristic three-zonal pattern, increased deposits of fibrinoid, rarefication of microvilli, dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum and of the Golgi apparatus.