Hormone secretion by human placenta grown in the eyes of rabbits

Abstract

Successful growth of human placenta in tissue culture in a previous study showed that the Langhans cells secreted gonadotropin.1 The amount of gonadotropin in the tissue culture fluid was directly proportional to the number of the Langhans cells present. Syncytial cells grew sparingly and degenerated early. The study was inconclusive as to the production of estrogens and progesterone due to the failure of syncytial cells to grow.Since estrone, progesterone, and their metabolic derivatives attain the highest concentrations in the blood and urine during the last month of pregnancy, it would be desirable to grow the full-term placenta. In all attempts, tissue cultures of the term placenta were unsuccessful, and resulted only in an over-growth of fibrous elements. Syncytial cells, as well as Langhans cells, failed to grow.Intraocular transplants in monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits have been successful in the study of normal tissues of the male and female genital systems, as well as embryonic organ implants and benign and malignant tumors. Implantation of the mature human placental tissue into the eyes of rabbits offers a method of study where tissue cultures in vitro have been inconclusive. If Langhans cells are present in the term placenta, will they grow in intraocular explants with evidence of gonadotropin secretion? Will syncytial cells grow with evidence of estrogen and progestin secretion? The present study developed with these questions in mind.