Syncytiotrophoblast
The syncytiotrophoblast (from the Greek 'syn'- together; 'cytio'- of cells; 'tropho'- nutrition; 'blast'- bud) is the epithelial covering of the highly vascular embryonic placental villi, which invades the wall of the uterus to establish nutrient circulation between the embryo and the mother.
It is a multinucleate, terminally differentiated syncytium, extending to 13 cm.
| Syncytiotrophoblast | |
|---|---|
 Primary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic. | |
 Secondary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic. | |
| Details | |
| Carnegie stage | 5a |
| Days | 8 |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | syncitiotrophoblastus |
| TE | E6.0.1.1.4.0.2 |
| FMA | 83040 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Function
It is the outer layer of the trophoblasts and actively invades the uterine wall, during implantation, rupturing maternal capillaries and thus establishing an interface between maternal blood and embryonic extracellular fluid, facilitating passive exchange of material between the mother and the embryo.
The syncytial property is important since the mother's immune system includes white blood cells that are able to migrate into tissues by "squeezing" in between cells. If they were to reach the fetal side of the placenta, many foreign proteins would be recognized, triggering an immune reaction. However the syncytium acts as a giant cell so there are no gaps for immune cells to migrate through.
One way in which it accomplishes this task is by suppressing the expression of immunity-related genes HLA-A and HLA-B, which are classically known to be expressed by all nucleated cells. These genes normally express the MHC-I ligand that acts as a major binding mechanism for T-cells. By decreasing the translation of these gene products, the syncytiotrophoblast reduces the chances of an attack by the maternal immune system mediated by T-cells.
The syncytiotrophoblast secretes progesterone and leptin in addition to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (HPL); hCG prevents degeneration of the corpus luteum. Progesterone serves to maintain the integrity of the uterine lining and, until the syncytiotrophoblast is mature enough to secrete enough progesterone to support pregnancy (in the fourth month of embryonic development), it is aided by the corpus luteum graviditatis.
Formation
The syncytiotrophoblast lacks proliferative capacity and instead is maintained by fusion of underlying cytotrophoblast cells. This fusion is assisted by syncytin, a protein that was integrated into mammalian genomes from an endogenous retrovirus.
Additional images
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Section through embryonic area of Vespertilio murinus to show the formation of the amniotic cavity. -
Histopathology of a chorionic villus, in a tubal pregnancy -
Histopathology of placenta with increased syncytial knotting of chorionic villi, with two knots pointed out.
See also
References
Tony M. Plant, Anthony J. Zeleznik: "Knobil and Neill's Physiology of Reproduction: Two-Volume Set" p 1790
External links
- Histology image: 19908loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Female Reproductive System: placental villi"
- Nature (Journal) Diagram
- Musicki B, Pepe G, Albrecht E (1997). "Functional differentiation of placental syncytiotrophoblasts during baboon pregnancy: developmental expression of chorionic somatomammotropin messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels". J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 82 (12): 4105–10. doi:10.1210/jcem.82.12.4453. PMID 9398722. S2CID 45968567. Article Archived 2011-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Diagram at McGill
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