Techniques to study human placental transport

Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure on Human Pregnancy and Postpartum

“…The ex vivo perfusion model allows studying placental transport, metabolism, influx or efflux as well as the kinetic profile and action of the chemical on placental tissue. This method has been used to study the transfer of many substances, such as nutrients, hormones, proteins, therapeutic agents and drugs of abuse, and offers an extremely useful tool for drug development [82].…”

Controlling drug delivery across the placenta

“…For example, human placental lobe perfusion systems have shown that mechanisms of placental drug transport rates and extent can be investigated in vitro (Bassily et al, 1995;Tuntland et al, 1999;Sastry, 1999). Human trophoblast culture systems, both primary cultures and cell lines, also exist, including those that form monolayers, and have been used to study uptake and transport mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels (Ringler and Strauss, 1990;Yui et al, 1994;Bloxam et Audus, K.L.…”

“…Human trophoblast culture systems, both primary cultures and cell lines, also exist, including those that form monolayers, and have been used to study uptake and transport mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels (Ringler and Strauss, 1990;Yui et al, 1994;Bloxam et Audus, K.L. (1999) Liu et al, 1997;Sastry, 1999). A point to be made is that in vitro systems are more often derived from mature placenta and may not represent the early pregnancy when drug exposure may be even more critical for the developing fetus.…”

“…A point to be made is that in vitro systems are more often derived from mature placenta and may not represent the early pregnancy when drug exposure may be even more critical for the developing fetus. Collectively, the in vitro systems have ultimately provided what few details we have on specific mechanisms mediating the distribution of nutrients, hormones, drugs, and drugs of abuse across the human placenta (Malek et al, 1996;Knipp et al, 1999;Ganapathy et al, 1999;Tuntland et al, 1999;Sastry, 1999).…”

In Vitro Models Using the Human Placenta to Study Fetal Exposure to Drugs

“…This is the only method that simulates important in vivo features such as maintenance of the placental barrier and the separation perfusion of the maternal and fetal circuits. This model can provide information concerning three major aspects: a. placental transfer of substances; b. effects of endogenous and exogenous substances on fetal perfusion pressure and transport; and c. release of endogenous substances into maternal and fetal perfusions (Sastry, 1999).…”