Intro
About This Book
Contents
About the Editor
1: Feto-placental Unit: From Development to Function
1.1 Development of the Placenta
1.1.1 The Origin of Trophoblast
1.1.2 Lacunar Stage
1.1.3 Villous Stage
1.1.4 Cell Types of Human Placenta
1.1.4.1 Trophoblastic Cell Linage
1.1.4.2 Non-trophoblastic Cell Lineage
1.2 Placenta During the Final Embryonic Stage and the Fetal Period
1.2.1 Fetal Annexes
1.2.1.1 Umbilical Cord
1.2.1.2 Extraembryonic Membranes
1.2.2 Amniotic Fluid
1.2.2.1 Amniotic Fluid Pathologies

1.2.3 Placental Pathologies
1.2.3.1 Abnormally Invasive Placenta
1.2.3.2 Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
1.2.3.3 Infectious Processes
1.3 Maternal-Fetal-Placental Unit
1.3.1 Oxygen
1.3.2 Influence of Placental Architecture on Oxygen Transport
1.3.3 Oxygen-Induced Molecular Control of Placental Architecture/Performance
1.3.3.1 Hypoxia-Induced Factor (HIF)
1.3.3.2 HIF Is Necessary for Placental Development
1.3.3.3 HIF Controls the Placental Cell Fate
1.3.3.4 HIF Requirement for Angiogenesis in the Placenta
1.4 Placental Transport

1.4.1 Endocytosis and Exocytosis
1.4.2 Channels
1.4.2.1 Transporters
1.5 Conclusion
References
2: Role of Hormones During Gestation and Early Development: Pathways Involved in Developmental Programming
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Steroids
2.2.1 Androgens
2.2.2 Estrogens
2.2.3 Progesterone
2.3 Thyroid Hormones
2.4 Insulin-Like Growth Factors System
2.5 Developmental Programming
2.5.1 Androgens and Estrogens in Developmental Programming
2.5.1.1 PCOS as a Case
2.5.2 THs in Developmental Programming
2.5.3 IGFs and Developmental Programming

2.5.4 Adipokines and Hormonal Regulation: Contribution of Adipose Tissue to Developmental Programming Effects
2.6 Epigenetic and Developmental Programming
2.6.1 Epigenetic Regulation During Gestation
2.6.2 Milk MicroRNAs in Lactation
2.7 Conclusions
References
3: Physiological and Pathophysiological Role of Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels (BKCa) in HUVECs and Placenta
3.1 Placental Function
3.2 Fetoplacental Circulation
3.3 Regulation of Placental Circulation by Potassium Channels
3.4 The Large Conductance Potassium Channels (BKCa)

3.5 The Expression and Activity of BKCa in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs)
3.6 Potential Roles of BKCa in Placental Pathologies
3.7 Concluding Remarks
References
4: Metabolic Interaction Between Folate, Vitamin B12, and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Pregnancy
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Maternal and Fetal Folates and Vitamin B12 Requirements During Gestation
4.3 Biological Functions of Folate and Vitamin B12
4.4 Folate and Vitamin B12 Imbalance During Pregnancy
4.5 DHA in Pregnancy and Biological Functions