Placental development in the mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). II. From the establishment of the labyrinth to term

Placental development was studied in 24 gerbils from day 13 to term. Allantoic mesoderm contacts and vascularizes the chorionic‐trager plate of germinal cytotrophoblast on day 13. Soon villous extensions penetrate the plate, carrying with them a covering of three layers of trophoblast derived from it. As the villi elongate, clumps of germinal cytotrophoblast are carried peripherally by them. Further development of each villus results in a cylindrical mesenchymal core with a central arteriole, and radially arranged branching lamellar extensions carrying capillaries derived from the villus arteriole. Germinal cytotrophblast clusters disappear near term, but some indication always remains of the trilaminar covering of the villus and its lamellae. A typical countercurrent blood flow pattern occurs. The trophospongium is derived from the ectoplacental cone and the mesometrial surface of the germinal cytotrophoblastic plate. Although a few clusters of small cells occur, it is essentially a giant cell trophospongium and never contains cells resembling the clear cells of the rat. Late in pregnancy it becomes much reduced in thickness. The unique subplacental gland begins to degenerate soon after placental establishment and is gone by the last half of pregnancy. The metrial gland begins development at midterm and becomes a solid mass of cells filling the perivascular space of the mesometrial triangle at term.