Electron Microscopic Findings of Human Chorionic Villi

Electron micrographs, mainly of annular sections of chorionic villi, were obtained from patients with toxemia of pregnancy and also hemales in the first, second or third trimester of pregrancy, and aging was discussed grom the viespoint of morphological changes in the chorionic villi. (1)Syncytium cells were found to be cyto-aggregative in the chorionic villi during the first trimester, showing patterns assumed to be the result of the conbersion of Langhans cells to Syncytium cells and also patterns of cell membrane remnants in the cytoplasm associated with it. (2)In the third trimester of pregnancy, the inner lumen of Syncytium cell ER in the chorionic villi were found to be larger the nearer they were closer to each in the third trimester. (3)In the chorionic villi of patients with toxemia of pregnancy, such findings as that of the basement membranes being hypertrophied, the increase in collagen fibers and the remarkable patterns of congestion of capilary vessele were characteristic. (3)In the chorionic villi of patients with toxemia of pregnancy, such findings as that of the basement membrabes being hypertophied, the increase in dollagen fibers and the remarkable patterns of congestion of capilarry vessels were characteristic. Throughout the course of pregnancy, the chorionic villi demonstrate a continuous sysle of genesis and aging. The electron micropraphs indicating a decrease in microvilli, dilation of ER, the merging of syncytial cells, a decrease in langhans cells, hypertrophy of the basement membrabes and an increase in collagen fibers and be regarded as demonstrating the aginf phenomena of villi, whreby villi in toxemia of pregnancy may be assumed to present a highly-advanced example of the aging phenomenon.