Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy of erythrocytes protruding through the placental syncytiotrophoblast
Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy of erythrocytes protruding through the placental syncytiotrophoblast
The syncytiotrophoblast forms a continuous barrier between the maternal and fetal circulations. Here we present a serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) study, based on a single image stack, showing pooling of fetal blood underneath a region of stretched syncytiotrophoblast that has become detached from the basement membrane. Erythrocytes are protruding from discrete holes in the syncytiotrophoblast suggesting that, under specific circumstances, the syncytiotrophoblast may be permeable to fetal cells. This observation represents a pathological process but it poses questions about the physical properties and permeability of the syncytiotrophoblast and may represent an early stage in the formation of fibrin deposits in areas of syncytial denudation. This study also illustrates how the 3D images generated by SBFSEM allow the interpretation of structures that could not be understood from a single histological section.
Palaiologou, Eleni
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Goggin, Patricia
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Chatelet, David
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Lofthouse, Emma
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Torrens, Christopher
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Sengers, Bram
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Cleal, Jane
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Page, Anton
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Lewis, Rohan
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Palaiologou, Eleni
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Goggin, Patricia
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Chatelet, David
6371fd7a-e274-4738-9ccb-3dd4dab32928
Lofthouse, Emma
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Torrens, Christopher
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Sengers, Bram
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Cleal, Jane
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Page, Anton
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Lewis, Rohan
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Palaiologou, Eleni, Goggin, Patricia, Chatelet, David, Lofthouse, Emma, Torrens, Christopher, Sengers, Bram, Cleal, Jane, Page, Anton and Lewis, Rohan
(2017)
Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy of erythrocytes protruding through the placental syncytiotrophoblast.
Journal of Anatomy.
(doi:10.1111/joa.12658).
Abstract
The syncytiotrophoblast forms a continuous barrier between the maternal and fetal circulations. Here we present a serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) study, based on a single image stack, showing pooling of fetal blood underneath a region of stretched syncytiotrophoblast that has become detached from the basement membrane. Erythrocytes are protruding from discrete holes in the syncytiotrophoblast suggesting that, under specific circumstances, the syncytiotrophoblast may be permeable to fetal cells. This observation represents a pathological process but it poses questions about the physical properties and permeability of the syncytiotrophoblast and may represent an early stage in the formation of fibrin deposits in areas of syncytial denudation. This study also illustrates how the 3D images generated by SBFSEM allow the interpretation of structures that could not be understood from a single histological section.
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blood blister paper for J anatomy authors accepted version
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joa12658
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Accepted/In Press date: 22 May 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 17 July 2017
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Local EPrints ID: 412074
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/412074
ISSN: 0021-8782
PURE UUID: 0628c527-db86-45e7-833f-e64c4bbf2cec
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Date deposited: 06 Jul 2017 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 05:31
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Author:
Eleni Palaiologou
Author:
Patricia Goggin
Author:
David Chatelet
Author:
Emma Lofthouse
Author:
Christopher Torrens
Author:
Anton Page
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