The role of placental function in maintaining an adequate fetal growth has been addressed
by many different laboratories. The relationship between maternal and fetal circulation in the
placenta is crucial for efficient exchanges of oxygen and nutrients. Moreover, maturational
changes are taking place throughout gestation within the placenta in order to increase the
transfer capacities while fetal/placental weight ratio is significantly decreasing. In human
pregnancies, an impairment in the invasion of fetal trophoblast cells into the maternal …