HISTOCHEMICAL AGE-CHANGES IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL PLACENTAL VILLI (HYDATIDIFORM MOLE, ECLAMPSIA)

Abstract

Acid phosphatase makes its appearance in the syncytium of the normal placenta at term; it is confined principally to the nuclei, whereas alkaline phosphatase, which begins to appear mos. earlier, is concentrated entirely in the syncytial cytoplasm . Ca and Fe occur in great abundance in the stroma of normal chorionic villi in the middle portion of gestation. Traces of acid and alkaline phosphatase also occur in the stroma at this same period. The cytology and histochemistry of 2 hydatidiform moles, as well as the placentas from 2 cases diagnosed, respectively, as pre-eclatnpsia and eclampsia are explored. The trophoblast of the moles is variably rich in basophilic substance and birefringent lipids, contains a great excess of glycogen, exhibits relatively little alkaline phosphatase and no acid phosphatase. No Ca and only diffuse traces of Fe are found in the edematous stroma. The chorionic villi of the pre-eclamptic and eclamptic placentas show premature ageing, characterized especially by a diminution in ribonucleoproteins (loss of cytoplasmic basophilia in the syncytial trophoblast) and an increase in alkaline and acid phosphatases. Ca and glycogen are variably increased in amounts and abnormally distributed in the stroma of the villi.