Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, Cambridge, UK.
Methods Mol Biol. 2024;2781:1-13. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3746-3_1.
The mouse is a common animal species used for translational studies. In reproductive studies, this animal is typically preferred over other models as the rodent placenta shows similarities to the human but has a relatively short gestational period. In mice, the transport of oxygen and nutrients between mother and fetus occurs in a restricted area of the placenta called the labyrinth zone. Here, we provide a detailed protocol to study labyrinth zone trophoblast proliferation and syncytial trophoblast identification using paraffin-embedded histological sections of the mouse placenta and immunohistochemistry. By describing step by step how to collect the mouse placenta and process and analyze the labyrinth zone, we hope to help other scientists understand the contribution of changes in placental transport function in their experimental model and therefore advance our understanding of mechanisms underlying pregnancy complications.
老鼠是一种常用于转化研究的常见动物物种。在生殖研究中,这种动物通常比其他模型更受欢迎,因为啮齿动物胎盘与人类相似,但妊娠期相对较短。在老鼠中,氧气和营养物质在母体和胎儿之间的运输发生在胎盘的一个称为迷宫区的受限区域。在这里,我们提供了一个详细的方案,使用小鼠胎盘的石蜡包埋组织切片和免疫组织化学来研究迷宫区滋养细胞增殖和合体滋养细胞鉴定。通过逐步描述如何收集小鼠胎盘以及处理和分析迷宫区,我们希望帮助其他科学家了解其实验模型中胎盘转运功能变化的贡献,从而深入理解妊娠并发症的发生机制。