Placental Vascular Endothelial Cells (PVEC)

The placenta (also known as afterbirth) is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, provide thermo-regulation to the fetus, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply, fight against internal infection and produce hormones to support pregnancy.During pregnancy, the placental vasculature undergoes widespread remodeling, in part due to endothelial cell proliferation and elongation. Vascular defects due to endothelial cell dysfunction in the placenta can contribute to the development of disorders such as placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth restriction, and pre-eclampsia. Placental vascular endothelial cells (PVEC) can be used to study the vascular defects in the placenta, to elucidate the mechanisms of angiogenesis and angiogenesis.