Journal of Cytology & Histology

Histological Changes of the Human Placenta in Pregnancies Complicated with Diabetes

Abstract

Soad A. Treesh and Nadia S. Khair

Normal fetal growth and survival depends on proper development and function of the placenta. The diabetic pregnancy is characterized by numerous disturbances in fetal growth and development. This study was done to focus on the effects of gestational diabetes on the histology of the placenta to confirm the magnitude of damage caused by diabetes to human placenta. Twenty Placentas of full term pregnancy were collected from Alzawia hospital, Libya. We used histological, histochemical and CD34 imuno-histochemical stains in this study. In diabetic pregnancy, placental weight is higher in comparison to normal pregnancy. Chorionic villi showed increased number of fetal capillaries, stromal villous fibrosis, villous edema, thickness of basement membrane of syncytiotrophoblast, glycogen deposits and strong positive reaction for CD34 in the wall of blood vessels in stem villus.