# ROLE OF PLACENTAL ANGIOGENESIS IN THE FETUS

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY · 1993 · $86,363

## Abstract

The long-term objective of this proposal, as in the previous project
period, is to study placental angiogenesis (development of the placental
blood supply), and its role in supporting utero-placental and fetal growth.
The mammalian placenta is the organ through which nutrients, gases and
wastes are exchanged between the maternal and fetal systems.  Thus, size of
the placental blood supply has a profound influence on the rate of
transplacental exchange, and thereby on the rate of fetal growth.  Factors
affecting fetal development, in turn, have a significant influence on
postnatal survival and growth.  The specific goals of the proposed research
are to isolate and characterize angiogenic factor(s) produced by maternal
and fetal placental tissues.  Based upon preliminary evidence indicating
that endometrial tissues of ewes secrete heparin-binding angiogenic
factor(s), immunoblotting and immunohistochemical techniques also will be
used to evaluate expression of heparin-binding growth factors by placental
tissues.  To accomplish these goals, placental tissues will be obtained
from ewes throughout early gestation (preattachment through definitive
implantation stages; Exp. 1) and mid-late gestation (periods of maximal and
then decreasing rates of placental growth; Exp. 2).  An additional study
(Exp. 3) is designed to examine in vivo effects of heparin-binding
angiogenic factors on uterine angiogenesis.  Ewes will be utilized in the
proposed experiments because ontogeny of placental production of angiogenic
factor(s) was well characterized during the previous grant period, and, in
addition, placental vascular function has been well studied in this
species.  Additionally, ruminant placentas are comprised of highly vascular
structures (placentomes) consisting of maternal caruncles and fetal
cotyledons, as well as interplacentomal areas consisting of intercaruncular
endometrium and intercotyledonary chorioallantois.  This placental
arrangement provides a unique opportunity to study differences not only
between maternal and fetal portions but also between functionally
specialized portions of the placenta.  Knowledge of factors which influence
placental vascular development should lead to a better understanding of how
fetal and maternal placental tissues interact to support fetal growth.  In
addition, because placental vascular development is one of the few
instances of angiogenesis in a non-pathological situation, isolation and
characterization of angiogenic factors produced by placental tissues will
be important not only for gaining a better understanding of placental
function but also for understanding regulation of angiogenic processes in
general.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198571
- **Project number:** 5R01HD022559-06
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** EZ4WPGRE1RD5
- **Principal Investigator:** Lawrence P Reynolds
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $86,363
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1987-01-01 → 1995-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198571

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198571, ROLE OF PLACENTAL ANGIOGENESIS IN THE FETUS (5R01HD022559-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198571. Licensed CC0.

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