Oxygen diffusive conductances of human placentae from term pregnancies at low and high altitudes
Abstract
A morphometric model of oxygen diffusion is employed to calculate the partial, total and specific conductances of human placentae from low- and high-altitude term pregnancies. Placentae were obtained from indigenous and non-indigenous populations and the diffusion pathway dissected into six tissue compartments. Birthweights were reduced at high altitude but were greater in natives versus non-natives. The altitudinal differences were associated with changes in placental diffusive conductances. The partial conductance of the villous trophoblast was conserved but the conductance on the maternal side was increased as was the conductance of the villous stroma. Fetal conductances were conserved (plasma) or diminished (erythrocytes). We conclude that birthweights are reduced at high altitude despite the attempts to increase the total placental diffusive conductance for oxygen. The mechanisms underlying these adaptations are discussed.
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Overall amongst species, the morphological adaptations of the placenta will increase its oxygen diffusion capacity and aid oxygen delivery to the fetus at low maternal pO2.
“Overall amongst species, the morphological adaptations of the placenta will increase its oxygen diffusion capacity and aid oxygen delivery to the fetus at low maternal pO2 (370, 387, 431).”
From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [370]
The increase in villous vascularisation at high altitude appears to occur without any consistent increase in villous surface area or volume.
“This increase in villous vascularisation at high altitude appears to occur without any consistent increase in villous surface area or volume (176, 365, 370, 387, 458).”
From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [370]
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- Authors
- Mayhew, T. M., Jackson, M. R., & Haas, J. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mayhew, T.M.
- ORCID
- Haas, J.D.
- Venue
- Placenta
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1990-11
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 493-503
- ISSN
- 0143-4004 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2085694351
- Cited by
- 77
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Placenta (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › High Altitude and Hypoxia
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
- Keywords
- high altitude, term pregnancy, birth weight, villous trophoblast, fetal erythrocytes, fetal plasma, morphometric model, indigenous peoples, hypoxia adaptation
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Physiological, Altitude, Analysis of Variance, Birth Weight, Diffusion, Female, Humans, Oxygen, Placenta, Pregnancy, Regression Analysis, In Vitro Techniques
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