We demonstrated fetal peripheral lymphatic vessels (LVs) using D2-40 immunohistochemistry in a whole female fetus (18 weeks of gestation, CRL 155 mm) except for the head. There were abundant LVs in the thyroid gland, lung, stomach, small intestine, rectum and pancreas, whereas no LVs were seen in the parathyroid gland, spleen and adrenal cortex. In the liver, except for the gallbladder bed, LVs were still restricted to around hilar thick portal veins and around the hepatic vein terminals. Subcutaneous LVs were well developed throughout the body even in areas where no or few perforating LVs connected with the deep LVs. The diaphragm contained abundant, dilated LVs in the pleural half of its thickness. LVs were also seen not only along supplying arteries of muscles and cartilage but also along the epimysium and perichondrium. LVs ran in a space between the obliquus internus and transversus abdominis but not between the obliquus internus and obliquus externus. Some tight connective tissues such as the sacrotuberous ligament contained abundant LVs. The intervertebral foramen contained a lymphatic plexus. The present observations provide a better understanding of peripheral lymphatic development. The fetal lymphatic morphology seems not to represent a mini-version of the adult morphology.
The objective of this study was to establish an anatomical atlas and a three-dimensional model of the fetal heart. To do this, we created a 60-um cross-sectional image database of the heart of a Chinese male fetus. A 31-week stillborn fetus with no congenital defects was used as the model. All th...
The mammalian placenta plays a central role in maternal tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus and fluid balance between the maternal and fetal compartments. The lymphatics play a role in both these function. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of lymphatic vessels in human dec...
Using D2-40 immunohistochemistry, we assessed the distribution of peripheral lymphatic vessels (LVs) in the head-and-neck region of four midterm fetuses without nuchal edema, two of 10 weeks and two of 15 weeks’ gestation. We observed abundant LVs in the subcutaneous layer, especially in and ...
The presence of a sublabral recess has been observed in adult shoulders. It is unclear whether this occurrence is a developmental variation or is acquired. The primary objective of the study was to determine if a cleft exists between the superior labrum and the superior cartilaginous glenoid anla...
Before secretion of fetal thyroid hormone at around 16 weeks gestation normal fetal development depends on a constant supply of maternal thyroid hormone (TH), particularly thyroxine (T4). The detailed mechanisms of transplacental delivery of TH are still uncertain. The TH binding protein, transth...
Adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2), also referred to as intermedin (IMD), is expressed in trophoblast cells in human placenta and enhances the invasion and migration of first-trimester HTR-8SV/neo cells. Further infusion of ADM2 antagonist in pregnant rat causes fetoplacental growth restriction, suggesting ...
To describe the prevalence of abnormal umbilical vein (UV) anatomy in fetuses with Down syndrome.This was a retrospective survey covering a 24-month period of fetuses with a genetic diagnosis of Down syndrome following a routine early second-trimester (12-16-week) detailed fetal anomaly scan at a...
The objective of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining techniques in the etiological diagnosis of non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF). The records of all 1,098 autopsies performed between January 1987 and May 2008, by the Division of Fetal Pathology of the U...
The early emergence of macrophages and their large pattern of tissue distribution during development suggest that they may play a critical role in the initial steps of embryogenesis. In the present study, we show that monocytic cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and from fetal ...
Keratinocytes release a number of cytokines interacting with other intra-and subepidermal cells during the initiation and the perpetuation of skin inflammatory reactions. Cultured human keratinocytes overexpressing the transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) assumed a spindled morphology and...
