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Characteristic patterns of maternal and fetal arterial construction in the rabbit placenta

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Abstract

We studied vascular structure of the rabbit placenta, especially on three-dimensional morphological patterns and developmental process. Basic structure of maternal arterial system was re-constructed during day 13–18 of pregnancy, forming main routes for blood supply through the arterial sinuses and radial arteries. Intra-villous spaces were drastically developed showing as branches from the terminal radial arteries. Fetal arterial system was generated accompanied with maternal vascular development, showing characteristic features such as the perforating linear artery, hairpin flexion, and circular anastomoses in the capillaries. From the correlation of maternal and fetal blood currents, gas-exchange style in the rabbit placenta was considered as counter-current and pool mixed patterns. These data demonstrated an original feature for the placental arterial systems in rabbits, which differed from other animals having a property for discoid placenta.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 23580407, to K-T. K. and No. 24380159, to Y. K.) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Basic Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan

    Kazuhiko Hayashi, Ken Takeshi Kusakabe, Nobue Kuniyoshi, Mashato Hiyama, Kiyoshi Kano & Yasuo Kiso

  2. Department of Animal Health, Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan

    Hamayun Khan

  3. Laboratory of Laboratory Animal Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka, 598-8531, Japan

    Ai Takeshita

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  1. Kazuhiko Hayashi
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  2. Ken Takeshi Kusakabe
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  3. Hamayun Khan
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  4. Nobue Kuniyoshi
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  5. Ai Takeshita
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  6. Mashato Hiyama
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  7. Kiyoshi Kano
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  8. Yasuo Kiso
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Correspondence to Ken Takeshi Kusakabe.

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Hayashi, K., Kusakabe, K.T., Khan, H. et al. Characteristic patterns of maternal and fetal arterial construction in the rabbit placenta. Med Mol Morphol 47, 76–82 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00795-013-0044-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00795-013-0044-x

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