[Ultrastructural studies on trophoblast structure using cell culture--a new theory].

A new theory is presented in this paper on the morphological capacity of human trophoblasts. A specific method of cell culturing was used to find out that what is called the syncytium of the trophoblast was formed by two types of epithelial cells, those with small and others with big nuclei. The so called syncytial nuclei and nodes, on the other hand, were found to be alien cell colonies originating from Hofbauer cells and with secondary location in villous epithelium. Hofbauer cells, consequently, should be considered as parent cells. All morphologically important cells of placental villi were cultured in vitro and individually assessed. That was the basis for the authors to find answers to new and very important questions regarding the placenta which had been obscure in the past. The socalled syncytium, too, consists of cytotrophoblast.