The Human Placenta

Growth, Development and Genetics of the Placenta: The origin and structure of the extraembryonic tissues; The molecular biology of placental development; The contribution of the paternal genome: hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma; Genetic diagnosis, chorionic villous biopsy and placental mosaicism; Ultrasound assessment of the placenta, and clinical assessment of placental growth; The Biochemical Interaction between the Placenta and the Mother: The placenta and maternal early adaptation to pregnancy; Placental endocrinology; The placenta and the control of parturition; The placenta and haemostatic balance; The Immunological Frontier Around the Fetus: The placenta and infection; The placenta as a graft; The decidua and factors controlling placentation; The placenta and recurrent early pregnancy loss; The placenta, pre-eclampsia and chronic villitis; The Placenta and the Fetus: In vitro assessment of trophoblast receptors and placental transport mechanisms; Trophoblast cell culture as a model for studying placental function; Endocrine and metabolic interaction between placenta and fetus: pathways of maternal-fetal communication; The placenta and intrauterine growth retardation; The fetoplacental circulation: anatomy, physiology, pathology and assessment of function by ultrasound