Abstract
This study examines middle and late gestational placentae from 13 Tayassu tajacu (collared peccary) and 3 Tayassu pecari (white-lipped peccary), which are Artiodactyla belonging to the Family Tayassuidae. The chorionic sac of Tayassu species is diffuse and chorioallantoic. These epitheliochorial placentae show no trophoblast invasion into the uterine epithelium and there is interdigitation between fetal and maternal microvilli. Two distinct regions of the fetomaternal interface can be identified: the interareolar and the areolar regions. The uterine epithelium has eosinophilic cytoplasm with dispersed, basophilic and electrondense granules. Trophoblast cells are irregularly cuboidal on top of the fetal ridges and columnar on troughs, where cells have cytoplasmic vesicles and large basal vacuoles, surrounded by whorls of smooth membranes. Capillaries indent the trophoblast cells forming a placental barrier 3 µm or less thick. The columnar uterine glandular epithelium has a subpopulation of granules staining with Perl's Prussion blue reaction, suggesting iron secretion. In areolar areas, the trophoblast cells show apical microvilli, a basophilic cytoplasm with electron-dense intracellular vacuoles and cisternae. The placenta can therefore be classified as non-deciduate. The ultrastructural aspects of this study reveal features that have not previously been described and extend our knowledge of functions relating to materno-fetal transport in these species.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Placenta |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 2-3 |
| Pages (from-to) | 244-257 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| ISSN | 0143-4004 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- Former LIFE faculty
- Placentation
- Peccary
- Epitheliochorial
- Tayassu
- Morphology
- Ultrastructure