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The role of gap junctions in trophoblastic cell fusion in the guinea-pig placenta

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Summary

Fusion of cytotrophoblast cells in the guinea-pig placenta occurs at regions of plasma membrane interdigitation where the cells are attached to one another by complex arrays of gap junctions and desmosomes. Fusion begins at the gap junctions, which are lost in this process. The desmosomes play no obvious part in the fusion mechanism and remain after fusion as sites of attachment of syncytiotrophoblast membrane to itself. It is proposed that a major role of gap junctions in placental development is to bring trophoblast plasma membranes into a close relationship which may act as a starting point for cell fusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Structural Biology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 ORE, London, England

    J. A. Firth, A. Farr & K. Bauman

  2. Department of Anatomy, King's College, London, England

    J. A. Firth, A. Farr & K. Bauman

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  1. J. A. Firth
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  2. A. Farr
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  3. K. Bauman
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Firth, J.A., Farr, A. & Bauman, K. The role of gap junctions in trophoblastic cell fusion in the guinea-pig placenta. Cell Tissue Res. 205, 311–318 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234689

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234689

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