Firth J A, Farr A, Bauman K
Cell Tissue Res. 1980;205(2):311-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00234689.
Fusion of cytotrophoblast cells in the guinea-pig placenta occurs at regions of plasma membrane interdigitation where the cells are attached to one another by complex arrays of gap junctions and desmosomes. Fusion begins at the gap junctions, which are lost in this process. The desmosomes play no obvious part in the fusion mechanism and remain after fusion as sites of attachment of syncytiotrophoblast membrane to itself. It is proposed that a major role of gap junctions in placental development is to bring trophoblast plasma membranes into a close relationship which may act as a starting point for cell fusion.
豚鼠胎盘的细胞滋养层细胞融合发生在质膜相互交错的区域，在此处细胞通过复杂的缝隙连接和桥粒阵列相互连接。融合始于缝隙连接，缝隙连接在此过程中消失。桥粒在融合机制中未发挥明显作用，融合后仍作为合体滋养层细胞膜自身附着的位点。有人提出，缝隙连接在胎盘发育中的一个主要作用是使滋养层质膜紧密接触，这可能是细胞融合的起点。
