Comparison of the thickness of the capillary basement membrane of the human placenta under normal conditions and in type 1 diabetes.

Using a morphometric method, the author measured the thickness of the capillary basement membrane in the placentas of healthy women in the first two trimesters and at the end of pregnancy, and in the placentas of diabetic mothers at the end of pregnancy. The mean thickness of the basement membrane of the placental capillaries was found to increase with the progress of pregnancy and to attain the maximum at the end of pregnancy. The placenta of diabetic patients has a significantly thinner capillary basement membrane than the placenta of healthy women. The findings are discussed.