Studies on the ultrastructure and permeability of the hemotrichorial placenta. II. Fetal capillaries and tracer administration into the fetal blood circulation.

The distribution of horseradish peroxidase and lanthanum chloride within the full term chorioallantoic placenta of the rat was examined after administration of these tracers into the umbilical artery. Both tracers rapidly traverse the capillary endothelium. Transendothelial channels, fenestrations and micropinocytotic vesicles provide the main pathways. Intercellular clefts which are either patent or interrupted by leaky intercellular junctions, also contribute to a rapid passage of low and high molecular weight substances. Deep channel-like invaginations, effecting an increase of the exchange area of layer III, are freely accessible to the tracers from the interspace between the capillary endothelium and trophoblastic layer III. The invaginations, however, are not in continuity with the interspace between layers II and III, verifying the syncytial character of layer III. Neither an uptake of the tracers nor a passage across layer III is observed. The main permeability barrier to feto-maternal transfer within the chorioallantoic placenta is localized in the syncytiotrophoblastic layer III. This layer controls the passage of low molecular weight substances and restricts the penetration of high molecular weight substances.