Biomaterial Database

[The ultrastructure of Langhans cells in pathologic human placentas (author's transl)]. 1977

P Kaufmann, and D M Gentzen, and M Davidoff

In electron microscopic observations on the villous cytotrophoblast in pathologic human placentas we find, besides a general increase of the amount of Langhans cells, significant ultrastructural differences according to the different diseases in pregnancy. Diabetes mellitus: the most striking observations are small, extremely electron dense mitochondria and a lot of intracellular filaments in a hydropic cytoplasm. Rh-incompatibility: according to the stage of placental damage the Langhans cells show a different structure. In light cases we find hydrolic cells with normal mitochondria as well as swollen ones. The plasmalemm shows a lot of foldings and dentations with the syncytium. In serious cases of rh-incompatibility the Langhans cells cover the trophoblastic basal membrane completely. Their electron density is even higher than that of the syncytium. Characteristic lysosomes appear. In the most serious cases the syncytium is completely destroyed and maximal hydropic Langhans cells cover the villi. EPH-gestosis: the Langhans cells show different phases of differentiation, but no other characteristic criteria. The importance of the Langhans cells for the regeneration of the syncytotrophoblast is discussed. Mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum are obviously not formed in the syncytium but they must be regenerated by taking up Langhans cells by syncytial fusion.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008928	Mitochondria	Semiautonomous, self-reproducing organelles that occur in the cytoplasm of all cells of most, but not all, eukaryotes. Each mitochondrion is surrounded by a double limiting membrane. The inner membrane is highly invaginated, and its projections are called cristae. Mitochondria are the sites of the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, which result in the formation of ATP. They contain distinctive RIBOSOMES, transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER); AMINO ACYL T RNA SYNTHETASES; and elongation and termination factors. Mitochondria depend upon genes within the nucleus of the cells in which they reside for many essential messenger RNAs (RNA, MESSENGER). Mitochondria are believed to have arisen from aerobic bacteria that established a symbiotic relationship with primitive protoeukaryotes. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Mitochondrial Contraction,Mitochondrion,Contraction, Mitochondrial,Contractions, Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Contractions
D010920	Placenta	A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES).	Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D011225	Pre-Eclampsia	A complication of PREGNANCY, characterized by a complex of symptoms including maternal HYPERTENSION and PROTEINURIA with or without pathological EDEMA. Symptoms may range between mild and severe. Pre-eclampsia usually occurs after the 20th week of gestation, but may develop before this time in the presence of trophoblastic disease.	Toxemias, Pregnancy,EPH Complex,EPH Gestosis,EPH Toxemias,Edema-Proteinuria-Hypertension Gestosis,Gestosis, EPH,Hypertension-Edema-Proteinuria Gestosis,Preeclampsia,Preeclampsia Eclampsia 1,Pregnancy Toxemias,Proteinuria-Edema-Hypertension Gestosis,Toxemia Of Pregnancy,1, Preeclampsia Eclampsia,1s, Preeclampsia Eclampsia,EPH Toxemia,Eclampsia 1, Preeclampsia,Eclampsia 1s, Preeclampsia,Edema Proteinuria Hypertension Gestosis,Gestosis, Edema-Proteinuria-Hypertension,Gestosis, Hypertension-Edema-Proteinuria,Gestosis, Proteinuria-Edema-Hypertension,Hypertension Edema Proteinuria Gestosis,Of Pregnancies, Toxemia,Of Pregnancy, Toxemia,Pre Eclampsia,Preeclampsia Eclampsia 1s,Pregnancies, Toxemia Of,Pregnancy Toxemia,Pregnancy, Toxemia Of,Proteinuria Edema Hypertension Gestosis,Toxemia Of Pregnancies,Toxemia, EPH,Toxemia, Pregnancy,Toxemias, EPH
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248	Pregnancy Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases.	Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D011254	Pregnancy in Diabetics	The state of PREGNANCY in women with DIABETES MELLITUS. This does not include either symptomatic diabetes or GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE induced by pregnancy (DIABETES, GESTATIONAL) which resolves at the end of pregnancy.	Pregnancy in Diabetes,Pregnancy in Diabete,Pregnancy in Diabetic
D012038	Regeneration	The physiological renewal, repair, or replacement of tissue.	Endogenous Regeneration,Regeneration, Endogenous,Regenerations
D001787	Blood Group Incompatibility	An antigenic mismatch between donor and recipient blood. Antibodies present in the recipient's serum may be directed against antigens in the donor product. Such a mismatch may result in a transfusion reaction in which, for example, donor blood is hemolyzed. (From Saunders Dictionary & Encyclopedia of Laboratory Medicine and Technology, 1984).	ABO Compatibility,ABO Incompatibility,Blood Group ABO Incompatibility,Blood Type Incompatibility,Rh Compatibility,Rh Incompatibility,ABO Compatibilities,ABO Incompatibilities,Blood Group Incompatibilities,Blood Type Incompatibilities,Compatibility, ABO,Compatibility, Rh,Incompatibilities, Blood Group,Incompatibility, ABO,Incompatibility, Blood Group,Incompatibility, Blood Type,Incompatibility, Rh,Rh Compatibilities,Rh Incompatibilities
D004721	Endoplasmic Reticulum	A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic