A review of ex vivo placental perfusion models: an underutilized but promising method to study maternal-fetal interactions

Abstract

Studying the placenta can provide information about the mechanistic pathways of pregnancy disease. However, analyzing placental tissues and manipulating placental function in real-time during pregnancy is not feasible. The ex vivo placental perfusion model allows observing important aspects of the physiology and pathology of the placenta, while maintaining its viability and functional integrity, and without causing harm to mother or fetus. In this review, we describe and compare setups for this technically complex model and summarize outcomes from various published studies. We hope that our review will encourage wider use of ex vivo placental perfusion, which in turn would generate more knowledge to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords:

• Placenta
• ex vivo perfusion
• pregnancy health
• drug transfer

Author contributions

PC: I declare that I participated by writing and editing the text and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

LV: I declare that I participated by writing and editing the text and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

MG: I declare that I participated by writing and editing the text and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

FH: I declare that I participated by writing and editing the text and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by R01 HD089679 from the National Institutes of Health of the United States of America (to Stayton/Gravett/Chiu, PI’s).