Placenta - histology slide

Third trimester placenta chorionic villi stained with anti-corticotropin releasing hormone antibody. Prominent corticotropin releasing hormone positive syncytial knot (red arrow) containing many nuclei is seen in the center of the field. The syncytium near this knot contains some corticotropin releasing hormone (orange arrowheads), possibly due to diffusion within the contiguous syncytial trophoblast cytoplasm. Syncytial trophoblasts not adjacent to the positive knot are negative (pink arrows).

Histology slide and description courtesy of Harvey Kliman M.D., Ph.D.; Yale University School of Medicine.