Mini placentas could serve as a model for early pregnancy

The placenta is absolutely essential to support the baby growing up inside the mother. When this does not work properly, it can lead to serious problems. Many pregnancies fail because the implant does not properly integrate the uterus (uterus) and neglects to establish a placental bond with the mother.

Due to the complications of studying this first period of our development, we understand very little about what is going on normally and what can go wrong.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge stated that they had managed to grow placentas outside the uterus that continued to grow for over a year and which filled the most of the main functions of the organ. This breakthrough of these models of placenta or organoids – has provided a window on the changes that occur in early pregnancy and could ultimately save women from life-threatening conditions during the course of their pregnancy progression.

Scientists have developed mini-placentas using villous cells – tiny structures resembling fronds – extracted from placental tissues.

These trophoblast organoids are able to survive in the long term, are genetically stable and organize into villous structures that secrete proteins and essential hormones that would affect the mother's metabolism during pregnancy.

During the tests, the scientists found that the organoids were very similar to the normal placentas of the first trimester. In fact, organoids model so closely the early placenta that they are able to register a positive response to an over-the-counter pregnancy test.

Professor Graham Burton, co-author and director of the Trophoblast Research Center, who celebrated his tenth birthday last year, said, "This mini-placentas builds on decades of research and we believe they will transform work in this area. They will play an important role in helping us investigate events that occur during the early stages of pregnancy and yet have profound consequences for the health of the mother and her offspring throughout life. "

"The placenta provides all the oxygen and nutrients essential for the growth of the fetus, and if it does not grow properly, the pregnancy may unfortunately end with a low birth weight baby or even a stillborn child. "

Professor Ashley Moffett said, "Now that we have developed organoid models on both sides of the interface – maternal tissue and placental tissue – we can begin to examine how these two sides speak to each other."

Commenting on the study, published in the journal Nature, Vivian Li, head of the Francis Crick Institute group, described the mini-organs as an "exciting breakthrough."

"The possibility of growing these mini-placents in the dish opened the possibility of more complex studies," said Li, who did not participate in the research.