Molecular Signaling in Early Placenta Formation Gives Clues to Causes of Pregnancy Complications, University of Calgary and Chinese Academy of Sciences Study

Understanding the molecular control of placenta formation, the organ which enables fetal growth, is critical in diagnosing and treating related pregnancy complications. A group of scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and the University of Calgary, Canada has revealed a molecular feedback loop that governs the earliest steps of placenta formation in mice, which is known to mimic placenta formation in humans.