The trophoblast is a layer of cells that forms the outer shell of a blastocyst and develops into the placenta. It plays a crucial role in implantation and embryonic development, and can become cancerous. Researchers study trophoblastic cells to understand fetal development and infertility.
A trophoblast is a layer of cells that comprises the outer shell of a blastocyst, a cell cluster that will eventually develop into an embryo. The trophoblast plays an important role in implantation and embryonic development, and the cells it contains are among the first to begin differentiating when a fertilized egg begins dividing to produce an embryo. Eventually, these cells develop into the placenta, the interface between the fetus and mother designed to provide a conduit for nutrients and waste products.
Within four to six days after fertilization, the trophoblast begins to form. These cells line up along the outside of the developing blastocyst and begin secreting hormones designed to prepare the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, for implantation. Initially, the blastocyst moves into the uterus, until the trophoblast successfully attaches to the uterine lining and implants. The trophoblast can begin dividing and differentiating to create the placenta.
Many things can go wrong in the early stages of embryonic development. Cells may fail to divide, halting development in its tracks, or fatal division errors may occur. Sometimes the blastocyst fails to implant and will stop developing due to an inability to access nutrients. Once implanted, environmental exposures and a wide variety of other factors can interfere with successful development.
After delivery, the placenta is expressed and can be shed. It is important to remove the entire placenta from the uterus to limit the risks of infection and other complications related to retained placental material. There are also concerns about uterine bleeding and other postpartum complications, prompting follow-up doctor visits to look for signs of complications.
Trophoblastic cells can become cancerous. Sometimes an embryo fails to develop and the trophoblastic cells continue to divide in a molar pregnancy, and if the trophoblastic cells are left behind after delivery, they can develop into a trophoblastic tumor. Known as gestational trophoblastic disease, these cell development abnormalities are sometimes benign and sometimes not. Cell biopsy is needed to learn more about the origins of the growth and their level of malignancy.
Like other cells involved in embryonic development, trophoblastic cells are a topic of interest to researchers. Scientists are interested in studying how cells signal to each other during fetal development and also looking at what goes wrong with embryonic development. This research can be applied to infertility and a variety of other medical problems.
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