Morphology and Ploidy of Smooth Muscle Cells in Chorionic Arteries under Different Hemodynamic Conditions

Resumo

Smooth muscle cells from the arterial wall of placental chorion were studied at 39-40-week gestation. The content of mono- and binuclear tetraploid myocytes was higher in sites of arterial branching and turns (27.3% vs. 4.4% straight parts of the arteries; DNA cytophotometry data). Mitoses were found only in these arterial regions (0.18%). Regional changes in the sizes of diploid and polyploid myocytes were detected, associated with the blood flow pattern in the chorion; myocyte hypertrophy was 17-fold more incident in sites of arterial turns and branching than in straight arteries. Possible causes of changes in the proliferative characteristics and subsequent growth of the chorionic arterial wall myocytes are discussed.