Placenta RSS feed: Articles in Press. INCLUDES TROPHOBLAST RESEARCH , the Annual Supplement that is available for free online. Placenta publishes high-quality original articles and invited topical reviews on all aspects of human and animal placentation, and the interactions between the mother, the placenta and fetal development. Topics covered include evolution, development, genetics and epigenetics, stem cells, metabolism, transport, immunology, pathology, pharmacology, cell and molecular biology, and developmental programming. The Editors welcome studies on implantation and the endometrium, comparative placentation, the uterine and umbilical circulations, the relationship between fetal and placental development, clinical aspects of altered placental development or function, the placental membranes, the influence of paternal factors on placental development or function, and the assessment of biomarkers of placental disorders. Original articles may be full-length papers or Short Communications. Papers describing innovative techniques that will advance the field may be submitted as a Technical Note with a format like a Short Communication. Case Reports are acceptable if they illustrate a point of general importance, and Book reviews and Letters to the Editors are also published. Placenta is the official journal of the International Federation of Placenta Associations, and is committed to supporting the scientific community with rapid processing of manuscripts. There are no page charges, and colour plates are free. Reviews are published on an open access basis, while original articles are made available free online 1 year after publication. Authors may chose to pay for open access publication in order to make their article freely available. PLUS the annual supplement Trophoblast Research with freely accessible full text articles online! http://www.placentajournal.org//inpress?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Placenta0143-40042012-05-18 © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.placentajournal.org/article/PIIS0143400412001786/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Enzymatic breakdown of the collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) that connects the amnion and chorion layers of the fetal membranes is one of the key events leading to rupture of membranes. Oxidant stress caused by increased formation of reactive oxygen species and/or reduced antioxidant capacity may predispose to membrane rupture, a major cause of preterm birth. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human labour and supracervical (SC) apposition on antioxidant enzymes and 8-isoprostane (a marker of lipid peroxidation). To determine the effect of human labour on oxidative stress status, fetal membranes from the SC site (SCS) were collected from women at term Caesarean section (no labour), and from the site of membrane rupture (SOR) after spontaneous labour onset and delivery (post labour). To determine the effect of SC apposition on oxidative stress status, amnion was collected from the SCS and a distal site (DS) in women at term Caesarean section in the absence of labour. The release of 8-isoprostane was significantly higher in amnion from the SCS compared to DS, and in fetal membranes from the SOR compared to the SCS. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were lower in amnion from the SC compared to DS. SOD gene expression and enzyme activity were lower in fetal membranes after labour. There was no difference in expression or activity in catalase, GPx and glutathione reductase (GSR) between no labour and post labour fetal membranes. In primary amnion cells, SOD supplementation significantly augmented IL-1β induced MMP-9 expression and activity. In summary, non-labouring SC fetal membranes are characterised by reduced antioxidant enzyme activity when compared to distal membranes, and, as such, may be more susceptible to oxidative damage and thus membrane rupture.Increased oxidative stress in human fetal membranes overlying the cervix from term non-labouring and post labour deliveries - Corrected ProofM. Chai, G. Barker, R. Menon, M. Lappas10.1016/j.placenta.2012.04.014Placenta (2012)2012-05-18Placenta2012-05-18http://www.placentajournal.org/article/PIIS0143400412001634/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Sulphate is required by the feto-placental unit for a number of important conjugation and biosynthetic pathways. Functional studies performed several decades ago established that sulphate transport in human placental microvillus and basal membrane vesicles was mainly via a DIDS-sensitive anion-exchange mechanism. In contrast, no evidence was found for Na+-dependent transport. Studies performed using isolated human placental tissue confirmed anion-exchange as the main mechanism. More recently, molecular studies have established the presence of anion-exchange proteins which could play a role in transplacental sulphate movement. However, the presence of transcripts for NaS2 has been reported and has prompted the suggestion that Na+-sulphate cotransport may play an important role in maternal-fetal sulphate transport. This article reviews our present knowledge of placental sulphate transport, both functional and molecular, and attempts to form a model based on the available evidence.Placental sulphate transport: A review of functional and molecular studies - Corrected ProofD.B. Shennan10.1016/j.placenta.2012.04.008Placenta (2012)2012-05-14Placenta2012-05-14CURRENT OPINIONhttp://www.placentajournal.org/article/PIIS0143400412001257/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Over the centuries, great interest has been devoted to the placenta and to its highly symbolic significance. The Renaissance represented the age of historical and cultural transition between classical and modern scientific paradigms.In the medical setting, Realdo Colombo represents one of the protagonists of this revolution. In his masterpiece, De Re Anatomica, he revolutionized the former medical perspective. We present a passage from this book, which carries invaluable information on the Renaissance viewpoint on pregnancy and placental biology. The connections between Colombo's theories and the previous medical tradition are also analysed.Realdo Colombo's De Re Anatomica: The renaissance origin of the term “placenta” and its historical background - Corrected ProofM. Pizzi, M. Fassan, M. Cimino, V. Zanardo, S. Chiarelli10.1016/j.placenta.2012.03.004Placenta (2012)2012-05-07Placenta2012-05-07SHORT COMMUNICATIONhttp://www.placentajournal.org/article/PIIS0143400412001403/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Fetal tissues are frequently discarded before (amniocentesis) or after birth, which both facilitates stem cell access and helps to overcome ethical concerns. In the present study, we aimed to isolate and characterize stem cells from the allantoic and amniotic fluids (ALF; AMF) of third trimester canine fetuses. This gestation age has not been previously explored for stem cells isolation. The gestational age, cell culture conditions and method of isolation used in this study allowed for the establishment and efficient expansion of ALF and AMF cells. We showed that the majority of ALF and ALF cells express the stem cell markers, such as vimentin, nestin and cytokeratin 18 (CK18). Under appropriate culture conditions AMF derived cells can undergo differentiation into osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic and neuron-like lineages. ALF derived cells showed adipogenic, and chondrogenic potential. Therefore, ALF and AMF cells derived at the third gestation trimester can be qualified as progenitor stem cells, accordingly referred as (alantoic fluid progenitor/stem) ALF PS cells and (amniotic fluid progenitor/stem) AMF PS cells.Derivation and characterization of progenitor stem cells from canine allantois and amniotic fluids at the third trimester of gestation - Corrected ProofR.A. Fernandes, C.V. Wenceslau, A.L. Reginato, I. Kerkis, M.A. Miglino10.1016/j.placenta.2012.03.009Placenta (2012)2012-05-07Placenta2012-05-07