Volume density of syncytial sprouts and its regional variation in the human mature placenta

The authors studied by means of sterological methods the volume density of syncytial sprouts in different cotyledonary regions of the human term placenta. The syncytial sprouts account for 4.92% of the placenta volume. Meanwhile, there were significant differences according to the site from which the sample was obtained. The lowest value (2.72%) corresponds to the central-parabasal zone of the cotyledon, close to the entry of the maternal blood into the intervillous space, whereas the highest values correspond to the "venous" regions. The results of the present study, as well as those reported by others, suggest that the lateral-subchorial zone would be the growing region of the cotyledon.