The origin and future of placental bed research

Insights into the structural and functional relationships between maternal and fetal circulations in the human placenta require an understanding of tr ophoblast invasive behaviour in the uterine wall. The concept of physiologi cally changed spiral arteries, and the discovery of the restriction of this vascular adaptation in pre-eclamptic pregnancies, are two outstanding cont ributions of Professor Brosens to this field. His findings inspired differe nt lines of research concerning regulatory mechanisms of trophoblast invasi on, which eventually may have wider implications in the fields of cancerolo gy, immunology and reproductive medicine. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.