Ultrastructure of the placental villi, chorion laeve, and decidua parietalis in normal and hypertensive pregnant women.

The fine structure of the placental villi, chorion laeve, and decidua parietalis from normal and hypertensive pregnant women is described. Placental villi from hypertensive women revealed an increase in syncytial degeneration and fibrinoid deposition. Also noted were greater numbers of cytotrophoblast cells. On the other hand, there were no morphologic differences detected in the cellular and noncellular elements of the chorion laeve and decidua parietalis between normal and hypertensive subjects. Secretory granules were observed in both the placental villi and the chorion laeve.