Morphometry of the microvillous membrane of the human placenta in maternal diabetes mellitus.

The syncytiotrophoblast microvillous membrane of the human placenta has been investigated with quantitative analyses in a group of placentae from diabetic mothers, these placentae being compared to a group of normal placentae. This study has shown that, in the placentae of the diabetic mothers, there was a significant increase in the surface density of the microvilli and in the microvillous surface enlargement factor as compared to those of the controls. Consequently, it has demonstrated that the already large villous surface area found in the placentae of diabetic mothers can be enlarged very significantly by the microvilli, in terms of the total trophoblastic surface area which is in contact with the maternal blood. On a functional basis, these findings support the theory that placental function is probably not adversely affected in these placentae, and that these placentae can efficiently support the growth of large fetuses.