Development of the Mouse Placenta

Placenta forms as a momentary organ inside the uterus with a slew of activities only when the woman is pregnant. It is a discoid-shaped hybrid structure consisting of maternal and embryonic components. It develops in the mesometrial side of the uterus following blastocyst implantation to keep the two genetically different entities, the mother and embryo, separated but connected. The beginning and progression of placental formation and development following blastocyst implantation coincides with the chronological developmental stages of the embryo. It gradually acquires the ability to perform the vascular, respiratory, hepatic, renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune, and physical barrier functions synchronously that are vital for fetal development, growth, and safety inside the maternal environment. The uterus ejects the placenta when its embryonic growth and survival supportive roles are finished; that is usually the birth of the baby. Despite its irreplaceable role in fetal development and survival over the post-implantation progression of pregnancy, it still remains unclear how it forms, matures, performs all of its activities, and starts to fail functioning. Thus, a detailed understanding about normal developmental, structural, and functional aspects of the placenta may lead to avoid pregnancy problems that arise with the placenta.