This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BILLINGTON, W. D. Articles by WEIR, B. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by BILLINGTON, W. D. Articles by WEIR, B. J.

DEPORTATION OF TROPHOBLAST IN THE CHINCHILLA

It is well established that deportation of trophoblast from the placental bed to the maternal system occurs during normal human pregnancy (see review by Bardawil & Toy, 1959). Trophoblastic `sprouts' break away from the syncytium into the intervillous space and pass directly into the maternal venous system (Hamilton & Boyd, 1966). These cells can be found in the venous drainage of the uterus throughout most of pregnancy (Douglas, Thomas, Carr, Cullen & Morris, 1959) and, although many are subsequently destroyed, probably by some lytic action of the blood, considerable numbers reach the maternal lungs (Attwood & Park, 1961). The functional significance of this phenomenon is obscure, but a number of suggestions have been put forward : that it is merely a physiological desquamation, that the trophoblast cells may have an