Histomorphological and morphometrical changes of placental terminal villi of normotensive and preeclamptic mothers

Placental morphology and cellular arrangement are altered in maternal diseases such as preeclampsia (PE) in which oxygen delivery from the mother to the fetus is greatly disturbed, ultimately resulting in cellular oxidative stress. The present study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy and included 112 placentas (56 each from mothers with and without PE [controls]) collected at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. A histological study was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The morphology of stem and terminal villi (TV) was studied, and the surface area and diameter of TV and capillaries were measured. The gross placental morphometrical study revealed that the mean placental weight, thickness, diameter, and surface area were significantly lower in placentas with PE than in controls. The histomorphometrical findings of the villous surface area and diameter were lower in placentas with PE, whereas the TV density was higher in placentas with PE than in controls, and the differences were significant (P<0.0001). In these TV, the diameter and density of fetal blood vessels of placentas with PE were significantly lower than those of controls (P<0.05). In conclusion, the both morphological and histological changes in PE placentas are indicative of the pathogenesis of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in women with PE. The observed and comparative histomorphometrical changes indicate a decline in all aspects of the PE placenta, except the number of TV.