Shaping and remodeling of the fetoplacental circulation: aspects of health and disease.

ABSTRACT

Extensive vascular adaptations occur during pregnancy, and these result in the formation of a low-resistance placental circulation that maintains high blood flow to the developing fetus. These adaptations encompass both functional and structural alterations, including altered vasoreactivity of resistance vessels, arterial remodeling and angiogenesis. This Special Topics issue presents a collection of expert reviews that summarize the current state of knowledge on the regulation of the structural and functional changes that occur within the fetoplacental circulation, as well as introduce emerging research questions and tools. Emphasis is placed on defining the mechanisms that underlie these physiological adaptations, as a foundation for applying this knowledge to the development of improved early detection markers and treatments for pathological conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal growth restriction.