NORMAL HISTOLOGY OF THE ENDOMETRIUM
Superficial functional layer
Basal layer

ENDOMETRAL CELLS
Luminal epithelial cells
Glandular epithelial cells

MENSTRUAL CYCLE
The menstrual phase
The proliferative phase (estrogenic or follicular)
The secretory phase (luteal or progestational)

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE ENDOMETRIAL CYCLE

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EARLY DEVELOPMENT

PREFERTILIZATION EVENTS
Sexual reproduction
Chromosomes
Meiosis I
Meiosis II
Oogenesis - formation of the female gamete
Spermatogenesis - formation of the male gamete

FERTILIZATION
Phases of fertilization
Passage of sperm through corona radiata
Penetration of zona pellucida
Fusion of plasma membranes of the oocyte and sperm
Completion of the 2^nd meiotic division
Formation of the male pronucleus

CLEAVAGE

FORMATION OF THE BLASTOCYST

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DECIDUALIZATION PROCESS
Simuli for decidualization
cAMP
PGE₂
Relaxin

CELLS INVOLVED DURING DECIDUALIZATION
Decidualization stromal cells (DSC)
Morphology of the DSC
Functions of the DSC
Molecules secreted by DSC
Prolactin
Insulin growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1)
Tissue factor (TF) / Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1)
Cytokines
Cell surface expression and adhesion molecules
Non-resident immune cells
Monocytes/macrophages
Decidual natural killer cells (dNK)

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STAGES OF IMPLANTATION - OVERVIEW

ROLE OF THE EMBRYO IN IMPLANTATION
Preparation of the embryo for implantation
Activation of the embryo for implantation
Hormone production by the embryo
Chorionic gonadotropin

ROLL OF THE ENDOMETRIUM IN IMPLANTATION
Morphological changes
Uterodomes (pinopodes)
Hormones and endometrium during implantation
Glandular cells and early embryo-maternal dialogue
Epithelial glycobiology
MUC-1
Heparan sulfate (HS) and HS-binding proteins
Epithelial adhesion molecules
Epithelial junctions
Epithelial receptivity and the window of implantation

INVASION

SUMMARY OF IMPLANTATION

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLANTATION
Overview
Cytokines
Growth factors
Hormones
Cell adhesion molecules
Extracellular matrix proteins
Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors

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INITIAL DIFFERENTIATION OF THE TROPHOBLAST - OVERVIEW

EARLY VILLOUS FORMATION
Anchoring villi
Floating villi

MORPHOLOGY OF THE EARLEY TROPHOBLASTIC CELLS
The cytotrophoblast
The syncytiotrophoblast

FURTHER DIFFERENTIATION OF THE TROPHOBLAST

EXTRAVILLOUS (INVASIVE) PATHWAY
Immunophenotypes of evCTB along the invasive pathway
Proliferative evCTB
Postproliferativwe evCTB
Large polygonal evCTB
Small, spindle-shaped evCTB
Interstitial CTB
Endovascular CTB
Multinuclear trophoblastic giant cells

VILLOUS (FUSION) PATHWAY

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF TROPHOBLASTIC DEVELOPMENT
Trophoblast differentiation and function - review
Factors involved in the differentiation of CTB
Extravillous cytotrophoblast (evCTB) function

TROPHOBLAST TURNOVER
Maintenance, proliferation, and cell cycle regulation in the villous CTB
The apoptosis cascade in teh villus CTB
Proliferation of trophoblast
Aging of the trophoblast
Trophoblastic shedding

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OVERVIEW OF VASCULOGENESIS AND ANGIOGENESIS
Vasculogenesis
Extraembryonic vasculogenesis
Angiogenesis
Branching angigenesis
Sprouting angiogenesis
Bridging-intussusception angiogenesis
Non-branching angiogenesis

STAGES OF VASCULAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE PLACENTA
Villous vasculogenesis
Formation of capillary networks (villous angiogenesis)
Formation of stem vessels
Regression of peripheral capillary network
Non-branching angiogenesis

DEVELOPMENTAL MORPHOLOGY OF CHRIONIC VILLI
Early development
Sprouting
Syncytial sprouts
Trophoblastic sprouts
Villous sprouts
Mesenchymal villi
Immature intermediate villi
Mature intermediate villi
Stem villi
Terminal villi

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLACENTAL VASCULAR DEVELOPMENT

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FUNCTIONS OF THE PLACENTA

TRANSPORT AND METABOLISM
Different types of placentas
Transport of respiratory gases
Oxygen transfer
Transport and metabolism of carbohydrates
Glocose transfer
Transport and metabolism of amino acids
Transport of water, inorganic ions, minerals and viatmins
Sodium
Other ions
Water transfer

ENDOCRINE FUNCTIONS OF THE PLACENTA
Hypophyseal hormones
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS)
Prolactin (PRL)
Other pituitary-like peptides
ß-endorphin
Steroidogenesis in the maternal-fetal-placental unit
Progesterone
Estrogens
Growth hormone
Placental peptides similar to hypothalamic factors
Human chorionic gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRH)
Chorionic thyrotropin releasing hormone (chorionic TRH)
Chorionic somatostatin (CS)
Chorionic corticotropin releasing hormone (chorionic CRH)
Oxytocin
Other chorionic cytokines, growth factors, and peptides
Leptin
Growth factors
Relaxin
Inhibin and activin
Vasoactive peptides
Eicosanoids and prostanoids

PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE PLACENTA

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