Growth and metabolism of the placenta after unilateral fetectomy in twin pregnant ewes.

Twin-pregnant ewes underwent unilateral fetectomy (Fetx) at 50 days of gestation and were studied at 136 days. Aspects of conceptus growth and placental cellularity and metabolism in vitro were compared to those of unoperated control groups of twin-pregnant or single-pregnant ewes. Mean fetal weight in Fetx ewes tended to be greater than that of twin-pregnant ewes and was similar to that of single-pregnant ewes. Mean placental wet and dry weights were intermediate between those for naturally single- and twin-pregnant animals. Fetectomy caused a significant increase in placental protein:DNA ratio but an unchanged DNA concentration, apparently due to cellular hypertrophy in the placenta of the remaining fetus. Weight-specific rate of oxygen consumption (VO2) of fetal placental tissue in twin-pregnant ewes was higher than in Fetx or singles while maternal placental VO2 in twins tended to be lower than in either of the other two groups. These results highlight the plasticity of placental metabolism and growth, perhaps in response to altered trophic signals from the fetus. Unilateral fetectomy should prove useful in studies designed to identify these signals.