| Dissertation |
Thesis (M. Sc.) --NUI, 2004 at Department of Anatomy, UCC. |
| Summary |
It has been proposed that certain aspects of the murine placenta are analogous to features in the human. In this sturdy we have used stereological methods to provide quantitative information on the structure of the placenta, in a commonly used strain of mouse, during two critical time-points in development. We looked at the giant cell population at mid-gestation when the placenta is developing. We showed that the volume of the placenta increases from E9 to E12. The volume of the nucleus does not change in this period but that the cytoplasm and therefore the cell size does increase. We also have shown that the number of cells remains constant. The second period looked at was late gestation. We documented the increase in weight of the foetus and the weight of the placenta from E13 to E18, and we noted that the maximum weight was reached at E16. At E14, E16 and E18 we documented the changes that occurred in the volume of the placenta and its compartments. The volume of the placenta reaches a maximum by E16. The volumes of the decidua basalis and junctional zone have reached a maximum by E14 but the labyrinth volume increases until E16. We also looked at the relative and absolute volumes of the labyrinth components. We documented that the maternal blood spaces has reached a maximum by E14, the foetal blood space increases until E18 and the foetal tissue reaches a maximum at E16. Together these data provide baseline information about the development of the placenta throughout gestation that provides a framework for future studies. |
| Subject |
Morphology (Animals)
|
| Collection |
Theses Masters
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|
Theses Anatomy Department
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| Description |
79 p. : ill. ; 30 cm. |
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