Figure 3

Photomicrographs of cross-sections of control, scNT-N- and scNT-MUC-derived term placentas. Dewaxed paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The villi and column trophoblast cells developed normally in control term placentas, but were poorly developed in scNT-N and scNT-MUC placentas. Immunohistochemical analysis of MCM-7 expression (lower panels). In control and scNT-N-derived term placentas, there was extensive MCM-7-positive immunoreactivity in cytotrophoblast (CT) and syncytiotrophoblast (ST) cells, which are located along the basement membrane layer of the branched villi, as well as fetal cells (fe). In contrast, MCM-7 was rarely detected in the anchoring villi of scNT-MUC-derived placentas. MCM-7-positive cells in scNT-MUC-derived placentas exhibited severe damage (A: aponecrosis, arrow).