To investigate the expressions of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in human placenta, we studied the expressions of Fas and FasL in placenta with RT-PCR, immunoblotting and immunostaining. We observed amplified products of Fas and FasL transcripts, the band of Fas (52 kDa) and multiple bands of FasL (42-52 kDa) in placenta. Fas and FasL localized mainly on fetal vessels and on syncytiotrophoblasts res...

Evidence for the endocrine r81e of the human placenta has been indicat’ed by manifold physiological experiments; the supporting data for this concept have been reviewed by Newton (1). Lipide extracts of human placenta have been shown to contain progestational activity as determined by the rabbit assay method (2-4). Since the progestational hormone has not been isolated from the placental extrac...

The placenta is a key organ for pregnancy evolution and fetal growth. Placental anatomic abnormalities may affect the placental functions, interfering in turn with maternal and or fetal wellbeing. This chapter describes the placental development, the macroscopic aspect and the histological characteristics through the gestation. The aim of this chapter is to provide updated information to help c...

Tissue-specific DNA methylation is found at promoters, enhancers, and CpG islands but also over larger genomic regions. In most human tissues, the vast majority of the genome is highly methylated (>70%). Recently, sequencing of bisulfite-treated DNA (MethylC-seq) has revealed large partially methylated domains (PMDs) in some human cell lines. PMDs cover up to 40% of the genome and are associate...

In conditions associated with high serum iodothyronine sulfate concentrations, e.g. during fetal development, desulfation of these conjugates may be important in the regulation of thyroid hormone homeostasis. However, little is known about which sulfatases are involved in this process. Therefore, we investigated the hydrolysis of iodothyronine sulfates by homogenates of V79 cells expressing the...

Notch signaling was evolutionarily conserved and critical for cell-fate determination, differentiation and many other biological processes. Growing evidences suggested that Notch signaling pathway played an important role in the mammalian placental development. All of the mammalian Notch family proteins had been identified in human placenta except Delta-like 3, which appeared to affect the axia...