implantation and placental function Flashcards
where does fertilisation take place?
oviduct
where does implantation take place?
lumen of the uterus
when it reaches the uterus, how does the embryo communicate with the mother?
placentation
maternal recognition of pregnancy
what is placentation and why is it required?
establishes physical and nutritional contact – required for a supply of nutrients leading to growth
what is maternal recognition of pregnancy and why is it required?
signals its presence to mother – required to prevent luteal regression. In humans, this molecule is done by hCG.
what are the stages in implantation and placental development?
first differentation step
apposition
adhesion
invasion
what happens in the first differentiation step?
6 days after fertilisation, cells of blastocyst differentiate into trophectoderm (outer cell layer) and inner cell mass
what does the trophoectoderm differentiate into?
placenta
what does the inner cell mass of the trophoblast differentiate into?
fetus
when does apposition happen?
6-7 days after fertilisation
what happens during apposition?
Positioning of the blastocyst within the uterine cavity - must face the right way
what happens during adhesion?
• Cells of the trophoblast fix to maternal tissues and to each other
how does adhesion occur?
Done via a group of cell adhesion molecules (including laminin and fibronectin) together with cell surface receptors for these molecules
when the trophoectoderm attaches to the uterine wall, how does it differentiate?
differentiates into 2 types of cells - cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast
describe cytotrophoblasts?
have single nucleus and divide rapidly in vivo
describe syncytiotrophoblasts?
o Syncytiotrophoblasts are derived from fused cytotrophoblasts
Multinucleated cell which doesn’t divide in vivo
what happens during invasion?
Trophoblast penetrates into maternal decidua (pregnancy endometrium) and endometrial spiral arteries via proteolytic processes
how do trophoblasts reach the maternal spiral arteries?
- Trophoblasts form villous structures
- Cytotrophoblasts break through trophoblast shell
- Invade through decidual tissue
- Trophoblasts reach maternal spiral arteries
what happens when trophoblasts reach the maternal spiral arteries and why?
• Spiral arteries are converted from narrow to wide vessels allows a much greater flow of maternal blood around the villi
what is the barrier between maternal and fetal circulation?
villous trophoblasts
why is it important that the embryo is in a hypoxic environment?
oxygen tension gradient is present
O2 tension increases towards the maternal side.
Invasion is partly regulated by this gradient
what molecules are involved in successful implantation and what do they do?
- Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) - converts AA to PGE2 promotes invasion and decidualisation
- Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) - involved in attachment and invasion
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - involved in angiogenesis
- Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) - inhibits antigen-specific lymphocyte response & decreases NK cell function
- Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) - regulated by IFNs to promote anti-proliferative effects
- Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) - regulates invasion and proliferation
if fertilisation and implantation occur, why dont progesterone levels fall?
- Corpus luteum does not degenerate because of hCG.
- Progesterone levels don’t fall bc progesterone secretion is maintained by corpus luteum (oestrogen levels do not fall either)
- Progesterone maintains the endometrium and becomes the decidua
when does the luteal:placental shift occur?
at 12 weeks
what is the luteal:placental shift?
Progesterone goes from being made by the corpus luteum to being made by the placenta
what happens if the placenta and corpus luteum levels of progesterone dont match up?
miscarriage can occur
what is an ectopic pregnancy?
pregnancies which implant in the oviduct of the fallopian tube
what is the risk if an ectopic pregnancy occurs in the uterine lumen?
placenta previa
what is placenta previa?
placenta lies low in the uterus and partially/completely covers the cervix