Abstract
This study analyses the manner in which trophoblast cells adhere to uterine epithelium and the subsequent interactions that contribute to the establishment of epitheliochorial placentation in the alpaca Lama pacos. Specimens at the luteal and follicular phases and at 22, 26, 30 and 45 days of pregnancy (op) were processed for morphological studies. On day 15 op, the blastocysts are completely free within the uterine lumen, with implantation starting around day 20. On days 22 and 26 of gestation, the trophoblast is apposed to the epithelial surface of the uterus, with areas of contact and adhesion by means of complex interdigitation. Implantation sites occur prevalently in the left uterine horn, but an expanded trophoblast also occupies large extensions of the right horn, where the maternofetal interaction shows peculiar areas of apposition. As development continues, attachment areas become more extensive. On days 30 and 45, many secretory granules can be seen in the uterine epithelium, while giant multinucleate cells appear interposed between the remaining trophoblast cells, showing intense alkaline phosphatase activity, deposits containing iron and PAS-positive granules. Placental lactogen hormone is not present within the cytoplasm of the binucleate or multinucleate trophoblast cells. By day 30 of gestation, the trophoblast layer is lined by an extraembryonic connective tissue that by day 45 is well vascularized, thus indicating the starting point of placental formation. Fetal and maternal capillaries indent the epithelium and the trophoblast, narrowing the specialized areas of exchange, which occur along the entire maternofetal interface, characterizing the diffuse nature of this placenta.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aba M, Bravo P, Forsberg G, Kindahl H (1997) Endocrine changes during early pregnancy in the alpaca. Anim Reprod Sci 47:273–279
Abd-Elnaeim MM, Pfarrer C, Saber AS, Abou-Elmagd A, Jones C, Leiser R (1999) Fetomaternal attachment and anchorage in the early diffuse epitheliochorial placenta of the camel (Camelus dromedarius). Cell Tissue Organ 164:141–154
Adams CL, Moir CE, Shiach P (1989) Plasma progesterone concentrations in pregnant and non-pregnant llamas (Lama glama). J Vet Rec 16:618–620
Adams G, Sumar J, Ginther O (1991) Form and function of the corpus luteum in llamas. Anim Reprod Sci 24:127–138
Bancroft J, Stevens A (1996) Theory and practice of histological techniques. Churchill Livingstone, New York
Basu S, Kindahl H (1987) Development of a continuous blood collection technique and a detailed study of prostaglandins F2α release during luteolysis and early pregnancy in heifers. J Vet Med Series A 34:487–500
Bielanska-Osuchowska Z, Kunska A (1995) A new approach to the areolar structures in the pig placenta: histochemistry and development of mucous areolae. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 33:95–101
Björkman N (1973) Fine structure of the fetal-maternal area of exchange in the epitheliochorial and endotheliochorial types of placentation. Acta Anat 86:1–22
Bowen J, Burghardt R (2000) Cellular mechanisms of implantation in domestic farm animals. Semin Cell Dev Biol 11:93–104
Bravo W, Sumar J (1989) Laparoscopic examination of the ovarian activity in alpacas. Anim Reprod Sci 21:271–281
Bravo W, Stanfeldt G, Fowler M, Lasley B (1993) Ovarian and endocrine patterns associated with reproductive abnormalities in llamas and alpacas. JAVMA 202:268–272
Bravo W, Stewart D, Lasley B, Fowler M (1996) Hormonal indicators of pregnancy in llamas and alpacas. JAVMA 208:2027–2030
Dantzer V (1985) Electron microscopy of the initial stages of placentation in the pig. Anat Embryol 172:281–293
Duello T, Byatt J, Bremel R (1986) Immunohistochemical localization of placental lactogen in binucleate cells of bovine placentomes. Endocrinology 119:1351–1355
Elwishy A (1987) Reproduction in the female dromedary (Camelus dromedarius): a review. Anim Reprod Sci 15:273–297
Fernandez-Baca S (1993) Manipulation of reproductive functions in male and female new world camelids. Anim Reprod Sci 33:307–323
Fernandez-Baca S, Madden D, Novoa C (1970) Effect of different mating stimuli on induction of ovulation in the alpaca. J Reprod Fertil 22:261–267
Fernandez-Baca S, Hansel W, Saatman R, Sumar J, Novoa C (1979) Differential luteolytic effects of right and left uterine horns in the alpaca. Biol Reprod 20:586–595
Fowler M (1989) Medicine and surgery of South American Camelids: llama, alpaca, vicuña, guanaco. Iowa State University Press, Iowa
Fowler ME, Olander HJ (1990) Fetal membranes and ancillary structures of llamas (Lama glama). Am J Vet Res 51:1495–1500
Friess A, Sinowatz F, Skolek-Winnisch R (1980) The placenta of the pig. I. Fine structural changes of the placental barrier during pregnancy. Anat Embryol 158:179–191
Gorokhovskii N, Shmidt G, Shagaeva V, Baptidanova I (1975) Giant cells in the placenta of the bactrian camel in the fetal period of development. Arkh Anat Gistol Embriol 69:41–46
Gray C, Taylor K, Ramsey W, Hill J, Bazer F, Bartol F, Spencer T (2001) Endometrial gland are required for preimplantation conceptus elongation and survival. Biol Reprod 64:1608–1613
Guillomot M (1995) Cellular interactions during implantation in domestic ruminant. J Reprod Fertil [Suppl] 49:39–51
Guillomot M, Flechon J, Wintenber-Torres S (1981) Conceptus attachment in the ewe: an ultra-structural study. Placenta 2:169–182
Guillomot M, Guay P (1982) Ultrastructural features of the cell surfaces of uterine and trophoblastic epithelia during embryo attachment in the cow. Anat Rec 204:315–322
Hunt J, Petroff M, Burnett T (2000) Uterine leukocytes: Key players in pregnancy. Semin Cell Dev Biol 11:127–137
Johnson G, Burghardt R, Spencer T, Newton G, Ott T (1999) Ovine Osteopontin: II. Osteopontin and αvβ3 integrin expression in the uterus and conceptus during the periimplantation period. Biol Reprod 61:892–899
Johnson L (1989) Llama reproduction. Vet Clinic North Am Food Anim Pract 5:159–182
Jones CJP, Dantzer V, Stoddart RW (1995) Changes in glycan distribution within the porcine interhaemal barrier during gestation. Cell Tissue Res 279:551–564
Jones CJP, Dantzer V, Leiser R, Krebs C, Stoddart RW (1997) Localisation of glycans in the placenta: a comparative study of epitheliochorial, endotheliochorial and haemomonochorial placentation. Microsci Res Tech 38:100–114
Jones CJP, Abd-Elnaeim M, Bevilacqua E, Oliveira LV, Leiser R (2002) Comparison of uteroplacental glycosylation in the camel (Camelus dromedarius) and alpaca (Lama pacos). Reproduction 123:115–126
Keys JL, King GJ (1990) Microscopic examination of porcine conceptus-maternal interface between days 10 and 19 of pregnancy. Am J Anat 188:221–238
Kimber S (2000) Cell biology of implantation and placentation. Introduction. Semin Cell Dev Biol 11:61–65
Mossman H (1987) Vertebrate fetal membranes. Comparative ontogeny and morphology; evolution; phylogenetic significance; basic functions; research opportunities. Rutgers University Press, New Jersey
Novoa C (1970) Reproduction in camelidae. J Reprod Fertil 22:3–20
Olivera LV (1998) Implantação embrionária em alpacas. Msc Thesis, Depto Histologia e Embriologia, ICB-I, University of São Paulo
Raub T, Bazer F, Roberts R (1985) Localization of the iron transport glycoprotein, uteroferrin, in the porcine endometrium and placenta by using immunocolloidal gold. Anat Embryol 171:253–258
Samuel CA, Allen WR, Steven DH (1974) Studies on the equine placenta. J. Reprod Fertil 41:441–445
San Martin M, Copaira M, Zuniga J, Rodriguez R, Bustinza G, Acosta L (1968) Aspects of reproduction in the alpaca. J Reprod Fertil 16:395–399
Sinowatz F, Friess A (1983) Uterine glands of the pig during pregnancy. An ultrastructural and cytochemical study. Anat Embryol 166:121–134
Skidmore JA, Allen WR, Heap R (1994) Oestrogen synthesis by the peri-implantation conceptus of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). J Reprod Fertil 101:363–367
Skidmore JA, Wooding FBP, Allen WR (1996) Implantation and early placentation in the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). Placenta 17:253–262
Steven DH, Burton GJ, Sumar J, Nathanielsz PW (1980) Ultrastructural observations on the placenta of the alpaca (Lama pacos). Placenta 1:21–32
Sumar J (1988) Removal of the ovaries or ablation of the corpus luteum and its effect on the maintenance of gestation in the alpaca and llama. Acta Vet Scand 83:133–141
Sumar J (2000) Llamas and alpacas. In: Hafez B, Hafez E (eds) Reproduction in farm animals. Lippincott Williams Wilkins, Pennsylvania, pp 218–236
Sumar J, Fredriksson G, Alarcon V, Kindahl H, Edqvist L (1988) Levels of 15 keto-13, 14-dihydro-PGFG2 a progesterone and oestradiol-17b after induced ovulations in llamas and alpacas. Acta Vet Scand 29:339–346
Van Lennep E (1961) The histology of the placenta of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius L.) during the first half of pregnancy. Acta morph Neerl Scand 4:180–193
Van Lennep E (1963) The placenta of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius L) during the second half of gestation. Acta Morph Neerl Scand 5:373–379
Wango EO, Wooding FBP, Heap RB (1990) The role of trophoblastic binucleate cells in implantation in the goat: a morphological study. J Anat 171:241–257
Wathes C, Wooding FBP (1980) An electron microscopic study of implantation in the cow. Am J Anat 159:285–306
Wooding FBP (1992) Current topic: the synepitheliochorial placenta of ruminants: binucleate cell fusions and hormone production. Placenta 13:101–113
Wooding FBP, Beckers JF (1987) Trinucleate cells and the ultrastructural localisation of bovine placental lactogen. Cell Tissue Res 247:667–673
Wooding FBP, Flint APF (1994) Placentation. In: Lamminig GE (ed) Marshall’s physiology of reproduction. Chapman Hall, London, pp 233–429
Wooding FBP, Wathes C (1980) Binucleate cell migration in the bovine placentome. J Reprod Fertil 59:425–430
Wooding FBP, Morgan G, Forsyth IA, Butcher G, Hutchings A, Billingsley SA, Gluckman PD (1992) Light and electron microscopic studies of cellular localization of oPL with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. J Histochem Cytochem 40:1001–1009
Wooding FBP, Morgan G, Monaghan S, Hamon M, Heap RB (1996) Functional specialization in the ruminant placenta: Evidence for two populations of fetal binucleate cells of different selective synthetic capacity. Placenta 17:75–86
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by grants from FAPESP 95/1880/4. Mr. Gaspar F. Lima, Edson R. Oliveira, Wilson R. Azevedo and Gerson B. Silva are acknowledged for their technical assistance, Msc. Guido Pérez for helping us to get and collect the samples. The authors would like to specially thank Dr. Carolyn Jones for her continuing interest, support and values advice in the preparation of the manuscript. We also thank all personnel of the La Raya Research Center and Institute of Camelids South American-IIPC, Puno-Peru.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olivera, L.V.M., Zago, D.A., Jones, C.J.P. et al. Develpmental changes at the materno-embryonic interface in early pregnancy of the alpaca, Lamos pacos . Anat Embryol 207, 317–331 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-003-0346-1
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-003-0346-1