Branching patterns of human placental villous trees: Perspectives of topological analysis

Kosanke, G.; Castellucci, Mario; Kaufmann, Peter; Mironov, Vladimir

doi:10.1016/s0143-4004(05)80212-7

Cited by 27 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The branching component of the placental villous vasculature is described in some detail in the literature [7][8][9]. However, no single study gives a comprehensive description of its branching structure.…”

Section: Branching Componentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In normal placentas, they branch in a mostly dichotomous manner to ultimately form approximately 60-100 chorionic arteries as small as 0.8 mm in diameter that branch into villous tissue [4][5][6]. As these vessels extend into the underlying villus tree, they branch further into multiple arterioles and venules that terminate in a dense network of capillary 'convolutes' [7][8][9]. In terms of temporal scale, the placenta is constantly developing throughout gestation, with significant blood flow in the feto-placental circulation at approximately eight weeks of gestation, and flow increasing through to term [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Multiscale modelling of the feto–placental vasculature

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

One contribution of 11 to a theme issue 'Multiscale modelling in biomechanics: theoretical, computational and translational challenges'. The placenta provides all the nutrients required for the fetus through pregnancy. It develops dynamically, and, to avoid rejection of the fetus, there is no mixing of fetal and maternal blood; rather, the branched placental villi 'bathe' in blood supplied from the uterine arteries. Within the villi, the feto-placental vasculature also develops a complex branching structure in order to maximize exchange between the placental and maternal circulations. To understand the development of the placenta, we must translate functional information across spatial scales including the interaction between macro-and micro-scale haemodynamics and account for the effects of a dynamically and rapidly changing structure through the time course of pregnancy. Here, we present steps towards an anatomically based and multiscale approach to modelling the feto-placental circulation. We assess the effect of the location of cord insertion on feto-placental blood flow resistance and flow heterogeneity and show that, although cord insertion does not appear to directly influence feto-placental resistance, the heterogeneity of flow in the placenta is predicted to increase from a 19.4% coefficient of variation with central cord insertion to 23.3% when the cord is inserted 2 cm from the edge of the placenta. Model geometries with spheroidal and ellipsoidal shapes, but the same volume, showed no significant differences in flow resistance or heterogeneity, implying that normal asymmetry in shape does not affect placental efficiency. However, the size and number of small capillary vessels is predicted to have a large effect on feto-placental resistance and flow heterogeneity. Using this new model as an example, we highlight the importance of taking an integrated multi-disciplinary and multiscale approach to understand development of the placenta.

show abstract

Section: Branching Componentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiscale modelling of the feto–placental vasculature

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This observation can be interpreted in several ways: certain villous branches are shorter and/or thinner or all branches are smaller (i.e. each villous tree is simply a scaled down version of its lowland counterpart) or the topology is different (Kosanke et al, 1993). At present, there is insufficient information to be certain about which of these possibilities applies (Jackson et al, 1987b;Lee & Mayhew, 1995).…”

Section: (B) Study IImentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fluctuating geometries of villi and intervillous pores influence functional performance, including haemodynamics, vascular conductance and diffusive conductance. A recent study (Kosanke et al, 1993) has analysed the topology of villous trees but this requires extensive serial sectioning and does not provide information about intervillous space. An alternative but complementary approach, star volume estimation (Gundersen & Jensen, 1985;Gundersen, 1986;Gundersen et al, 1988a;Vesterby et al, 1989), can be applied to random sections to define the volumes of spaces of arbitrary shape and size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent applications of the new stereology have thrown fresh light on how the human placenta grows and develops its form

Mayhew

1997

Journal of Microscopy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The availability of design‐based stereological methods has made it possible to readdress certain key and contentious issues in placental growth and morphogenesis. Three particular questions are: (i) does the population of cytotrophoblast cells decline during gestation?, (ii) is placental growth biphasic or monophasic? and (iii) what are the consequences for intervillous porosity of the elaboration of terminal villi? These questions cannot be answered definitively without recourse to the new stereology. Applying the disector to estimate nuclear number and star volume to assess pore size, recent studies have helped to resolve these issues. Their findings are reviewed. Nuclei were counted in the trophoblastic epithelium, stroma and vascular endothelium of placental villi. It was found that growth is monophasic and proliferative. All types of nuclei increased in number throughout gestation and this included cytotrophoblast. Trophoblast grows by the continuous recruitment of new proliferative units of uniform mean volume. The so‐called ‘loss’ of cytotrophoblast cells is a misinterpretation of what is seen on microscopical sections and is attributable to disproportionate growth in villous surface area. Cells simply become more widely dispersed. Elaboration of finer terminal branches on villous trees leads to a decline in the star volumes of villi and intervillous pores. Some of the functional implications of these findings are discussed.

show abstract

“…Placental aging was thought to occur because placentas undergo considerable histological changes throughout normal gestation (Kosanke et al 1993). Moreover, prolonged pregnancy (beyond 42nd week of gestation) was hypothesized to increase perinatal mortality as a consequence of a placenta reaching its aged state, termed placental insufficiency (Vorherr 1975).…”

Section: :2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive and negative effects of cellular senescence during female reproductive aging and pregnancy

Velarde

Menon

2016

Journal of Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cellular senescence is a phenomenon occurring when cells are no longer able to divide even after treatment with growth stimuli. Because senescent cells are typically associated with aging and age-related diseases, cellular senescence is hypothesized to contribute to the age-related decline in reproductive function. However, some data suggest that senescent cells may also be important for normal physiological functions during pregnancy. Herein, we review the positive and negative effects of cellular senescence on female reproductive aging and pregnancy. We discuss how senescent cells accelerate female reproductive aging by promoting the decline in the number of ovarian follicles and increasing complications during pregnancy. We also describe how cellular senescence plays an important role in placental and fetal development as a beneficial process, ensuring proper homeostasis during pregnancy.

show abstract

Branching patterns of human placental villous trees: Perspectives of topological analysis

Cited by 27 publications

References 28 publications

Multiscale modelling of the feto–placental vasculature

Multiscale modelling of the feto–placental vasculature

Recent applications of the new stereology have thrown fresh light on how the human placenta grows and develops its form

Positive and negative effects of cellular senescence during female reproductive aging and pregnancy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About