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Evidence for altered placental blood flow and vascularity in compromised pregnancies
Author(s) -
Reynolds Lawrence P.,
Caton Joel S.,
Redmer Dale A.,
GrazulBilska Anna T.,
Vonnahme Kimberly A.,
Borowicz Pawel P.,
Luther Justin S.,
Wallace Jacqueline M.,
Wu Guoyao,
Spencer Thomas E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.104430
Subject(s) - placenta , fetus , vascularity , placental circulation , blood flow , offspring , in utero , pregnancy , physiology , medicine , fetal growth , biology , andrology , pathology , genetics
The placenta is the organ that transports nutrients, respiratory gases, and wastes between the maternal and fetal systems. Consequently, placental blood flow and vascular development are essential components of normal placental function and are critical to fetal growth and development. Normal fetal growth and development are important to ensure optimum health of offspring throughout their subsequent life course. In numerous sheep models of compromised pregnancy, in which fetal or placental growth, or both, are impaired, utero‐placental blood flows are reduced. In the models that have been evaluated, placental vascular development also is altered. Recent studies found that treatments designed to increase placental blood flow can ‘rescue’ fetal growth that was reduced due to low maternal dietary intake. Placental blood flow and vascular development are thus potential therapeutic targets in compromised pregnancies.