Stereological analysis of mature human placenta of pregnant women of different age.

The normal placentas, regular pregnancies and deliveries were structurally examined. The aim of this research was to compare the results and to confirm if there were some difference in the structure of placenta related to the age of pregnant women. We examined 30 human placentas. The examined group of women were divided into two groups: 1) pregnant women 20-35 years old; 2) pregnant women over 35 years old. The stereological method was used. The volume density, absolute volume, the surface density and absolute surface of terminal villi of placentas in younger and older pregnant women were not significantly different. The volume density, absolute volume, the surface density and absolute surface of the other placentas villi in younger pregnant women compared to older ones, were significantly increased (p<0.001). The volume density of fibrinoid of placentas in older pregnant women compared to younger ones was significantly increased (p<0.02). The surface density, absolute volume and absolute surface of fibrinoid in these two examined groups of pregnant women were not significantly different. The volume density of intervillous space of placentas in older pregnant women compared to younger ones was significantly increased (p<0.05). Absolute volumes of intervillous space of placentas in these two examined groups of pregnant women are not significantly different.