Bovine placenta
In/ex vivo expression of growth factors
Significance of growth factors in the bovine placenta model
Research: Dr. Julia Hollenbach
Funded by: DFG
The project analyzes the effects of different growth factors on the cells of the feto-maternal interaction area in the synepitheliochorial bovine placenta. The cell types involved (trophoblasts and maternal epithelial cells) are investigated in the in vitro model at the morphological, functional and signal transduction levels.
Using state-of-the-art methods such as a live cell imaging system (DFG-funded), the regulation of restricted trophoblastin invasion and placental angiogenesis are being investigated. These investigations are intended to provide fundamental findings that will help to clarify the causes of various pathologies during pregnancy and thus possibly support the development of prophylaxis/therapies.
The results of the study were honored with the YW Loke New Investigator Travel Award at the annual meeting of the International Federation of Placenta Associations (IFPA) 2009 in Adelaide.
