Comparison of histological changes seen in placental tissue cultures and in placentae obtained after fetal death.

The histological changes in placental tissue cultures were observed and compared with those seen in placentae obtained after intrauterine fetal death. Early damage of the syncytiotrophoblast and improvement in the appearance of cytotrophoblast were seen in both cases. It is suggested that it is the cessation of the fetal circulation which causes these changes.