Vascular interrelationships of near-term mink placenta: light microscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts.

The microvasculature of the near-term zonary placenta of the mink has been studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts, prepared from maternal and fetal vessel systems, respectively. The zonary area, most important for placental exchange, includes a characteristic labyrinth. The labyrinth is composed of lobules oriented in a maternal-fetal direction. One maternal stem artery serves as the central axis of a lobule, and about six pairs of fetal stem arteries and stem veins of the chorionic primary villi mark the periphery of the lobule. Viewed from the fetal side of the labyrinth, this lobular structure presents a roughly hexagonal pattern, with the central maternal stem artery and radially oriented arteriolar branches giving the lobule the shape of a star. These arterioles frequently form bridges to neighboring lobular systems; however, the majority continue into the feto-maternally oriented three-dimensional network of maternal capillary sinusoids, which converge on the outlets of the maternal stem veins on the maternal side of the labyrinth. Maternal main crypts are delimited by the rays of the star-shaped lobules containing chorionic primary villi. The latter penetrate into maternal crypts from the fetal side, and are characterized by their axial arterial and venous stem vessels. Fetal secondary villi are arranged at different levels from these stem vessels. The secondary villi are characterized by arterioles and venules branching in pairs from the stem vessels and supply the tributary capillary complexes of terminal villi. The lobular structure of the placental labyrinth provides a three-dimensional framework of vessels where maternal capillary sinusoids and fetal capillaries meet in a one-way cross-current arrangement. The blood flow conditions and the peculiarities of the mink placenta interhemal membrane are compared to those of other carnivores and discussed with respect to the efficiency of the endotheliochorial placenta.