Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout Gestation

This study on cat placental organogenesis provides a detailed histological description, emphasizing the stages that have been less described. Thirty-seven gestational sacs were obtained by ovariohysterectomy, and the gestational age of the embryos/fetuses was determined based on developmental charac...

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Main Authors: Gimena Gomez Castro, Rocío Hernández, Andrea Cristofolini, Enrique Portiansky, Cecilia Merkis, Erika Badura, Luciano Casas, Claudio Barbeito, Mónica Diessler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/207
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author Gimena Gomez Castro
Rocío Hernández
Andrea Cristofolini
Enrique Portiansky
Cecilia Merkis
Erika Badura
Luciano Casas
Claudio Barbeito
Mónica Diessler
author_facet Gimena Gomez Castro
Rocío Hernández
Andrea Cristofolini
Enrique Portiansky
Cecilia Merkis
Erika Badura
Luciano Casas
Claudio Barbeito
Mónica Diessler
author_sort Gimena Gomez Castro
collection DOAJ
description This study on cat placental organogenesis provides a detailed histological description, emphasizing the stages that have been less described. Thirty-seven gestational sacs were obtained by ovariohysterectomy, and the gestational age of the embryos/fetuses was determined based on developmental characteristics. The placentas were measured and processed by routine histological techniques. Additionally, fresh tissue from a term placenta was processed for ultrastructural analysis. An in-depth histological analysis was performed, and several morphometric variables (placental and lamellar width, placental and labyrinthine thickness, area and number of decidual cells) were recorded and related mainly to gestational age. A significant increase was observed in fetal length from 31 dpc, while placental thickness rose until 39 dpc; lamellae became abundant, parallel, longer, and narrower. Many CTB cells gradually fused into the STB; however, it progressively reduced. Medium-sized decidual cells, arranged in groups at the junctional zone, were progressively incorporated into the lamellae; there, they persisted until term, decreasing in number and becoming larger and frequently binucleated. The description of temporal modifications in lamellar, trophoblastic, and decidual features widens current knowledge on feline placental morphogenesis. In addition, these findings might be valuable for elucidating mechanisms behind placental development, which in turn affect its efficiency.
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spelling doaj-art-61997030690846eda60d7cb3ea040a8e2025-08-20T03:44:01ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-03-0112320710.3390/vetsci12030207Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout GestationGimena Gomez Castro0Rocío Hernández1Andrea Cristofolini2Enrique Portiansky3Cecilia Merkis4Erika Badura5Luciano Casas6Claudio Barbeito7Mónica Diessler8Laboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada (LHYEDEC), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (FCV, UNLP), La Plata 1900, ArgentinaLaboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada (LHYEDEC), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (FCV, UNLP), La Plata 1900, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA C1425FQB, La Plata 1900, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA C1425FQB, La Plata 1900, ArgentinaÁrea de Microscopía Electrónica, Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto 5800, ArgentinaCátedra de Enfermedades de Aves y Pilíferos, FCV, UNLP, La Plata 1900, ArgentinaServicio de Atención Clínica Primaria de Pequeños Animales, Hospital Escuela, FCV, UNLP, La Plata 1900, ArgentinaLaboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada (LHYEDEC), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (FCV, UNLP), La Plata 1900, ArgentinaLaboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada (LHYEDEC), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (FCV, UNLP), La Plata 1900, ArgentinaThis study on cat placental organogenesis provides a detailed histological description, emphasizing the stages that have been less described. Thirty-seven gestational sacs were obtained by ovariohysterectomy, and the gestational age of the embryos/fetuses was determined based on developmental characteristics. The placentas were measured and processed by routine histological techniques. Additionally, fresh tissue from a term placenta was processed for ultrastructural analysis. An in-depth histological analysis was performed, and several morphometric variables (placental and lamellar width, placental and labyrinthine thickness, area and number of decidual cells) were recorded and related mainly to gestational age. A significant increase was observed in fetal length from 31 dpc, while placental thickness rose until 39 dpc; lamellae became abundant, parallel, longer, and narrower. Many CTB cells gradually fused into the STB; however, it progressively reduced. Medium-sized decidual cells, arranged in groups at the junctional zone, were progressively incorporated into the lamellae; there, they persisted until term, decreasing in number and becoming larger and frequently binucleated. The description of temporal modifications in lamellar, trophoblastic, and decidual features widens current knowledge on feline placental morphogenesis. In addition, these findings might be valuable for elucidating mechanisms behind placental development, which in turn affect its efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/207endotheliochorial placentafelinecomparative placentologytrophoblast
spellingShingle Gimena Gomez Castro
Rocío Hernández
Andrea Cristofolini
Enrique Portiansky
Cecilia Merkis
Erika Badura
Luciano Casas
Claudio Barbeito
Mónica Diessler
Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout Gestation
Veterinary Sciences
endotheliochorial placenta
feline
comparative placentology
trophoblast
title Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout Gestation
title_full Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout Gestation
title_fullStr Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout Gestation
title_full_unstemmed Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout Gestation
title_short Histological Changes in the Cat Placenta Throughout Gestation
title_sort histological changes in the cat placenta throughout gestation
topic endotheliochorial placenta
feline
comparative placentology
trophoblast
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/207
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AT enriqueportiansky histologicalchangesinthecatplacentathroughoutgestation
AT ceciliamerkis histologicalchangesinthecatplacentathroughoutgestation
AT erikabadura histologicalchangesinthecatplacentathroughoutgestation
AT lucianocasas histologicalchangesinthecatplacentathroughoutgestation
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