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Evolution ultrastructurale du labyrinthe de placenta de chatte

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Summary

The ultrastructure of feline placental labyrinth has been studied from the 45th to the 63rd day of gestation. The endotheliochorial structure is composed of: a thick hypertrophied maternal endothelium with giant decidual cells; an “interstitial inert substance”; a continuous syncytial layer (syncytiotrophoblast) and a discontinuous cellular layer (cytotrophoblast) of trophoblast; and a thin foetal endothelium with its surrounding mesenchyme. Foetal capillaries increasingly invade the syncytiotrophoblast. Maternal endothelial hypertrophy is reduced in the last days of gestation. Thus the interval between maternal and foetal bloods may in some areas become 2 μ, in late pregnancy.

Foetal endothelium, syncytiotrophoblast, and maternal endothelium demonstrate ultrastructural features of transfer function. The “interstitial inert substance”, which separates maternal from foetal tissue was always evident though with variable thickness. The giant decidual cells which are reduced in late pregnancy, show one or several “glycogen bodies”. The syncytiotrophoblast, where some steroïd biosynthesis has been demonstrated, has an extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum suggestive of protein hormone synthesis activity.

Résumé

L'ultrastructure du labyrinthe de placenta de chatte a été étudiée du 45e au 63e jour de gestation. Cette formation endothéliochoriale est composée: d'un endothélium maternel hypertrophié et de cellules géantes déciduales; d'une couche de «substance inerte interstitielle»; du trophoblaste constitué d'une assise syncytiale continue (syncytiotrophoblaste) et d'une assise cellulaire discontinue (cytotrophoblaste); d'un endothélium foetal accompagné de son environnement mésenchymateux. Les capillaires foetaux envahissent progressivement le syncytiotrophoblaste. L'hypertrophie de l'endothélium maternel diminue en fin de gestation; de ce fait la distance, séparant le sang maternel du sang foetal, peut atteindre en certains points 2 μ.

L'endothélium maternel, le syncytiotrophoblaste et l'endothélium foetal présentent des signes ultrastructuraux d'un rôle de transfert. La «substance inerte inerte interstitielle», qui sépare les tissus d'origine maternelle des tissus d'origine foetale, est constante mais d'épaisseur variable; elle est spécifique des structures endothéliochoriales. Les cellules géantes déciduales, dont le nombre diminue en fin de gestation comportent parfois un ou plusieurs «corps glycogéniques». Le syncytiotrophoblaste, siége d'activité de biosynthése de stéroïdes, est riche en ergastoplasme, ce qui autorise à postuler la synthése d'hormones protéiques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physiologie Comparée, Université de Poitiers, France

    André Malassiné

  2. Service Général de Microscopie Electronique Appliquée à la Biologie, Université de Poitiers, France

    André Malassiné

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  1. André Malassiné
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Directeur: Professeur A. Peyre

Remerciements. Nous remercions trés vivement Monsieur le Professeur J. P. Collin de ses nombreux conseils lors de la rédaction de ce travail. Nos remerciements vont également au Dr. M. T. Juillard pour son aimable collaboration, à Mme C. Besse pour son assistance technique, et à Mme C. Jougla, photographe.

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Malassiné, A. Evolution ultrastructurale du labyrinthe de placenta de chatte. Anat. Embryol. 146, 1–20 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341379

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