Ultrastructure of endothelial cells of fetal capillaries of placentae of women with pregnancy induced hypertension

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the ultra structural features of endoth elia l cells of fetal terminal capi llaries of placentae from hypertensive (n~10) and non-hypertensive (n~ 10) pregnancies. The ,dtrastructural features of endothelial ce ll s of termjnal capillaries from the fetal surface of each placenta were examined under the electron microscope. Micrographs ofB different endothe li al ce ll s from each placenta were prepared for evaluation by stereologica l analysis using a coherent double lattice test system. The volume fractions of different organelles and cytosol in endotheli al ce ll s of placental fetal capillaries of both hypertensive and non-hypertensive pregnancies were deter­ mined by counting the number of grid intersection points falling on the endothelial cell cytoplasm, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and glycogen deposits.