Regions responsible for organizing the microtubular cytoskeletons of extra-embryonic membranes

We have identified putative microtubule-organising centres in whole mounts and frozen sections of full term human placenta, amniochorion and first tri mester chorionic villus tissue by indirect immunofluorescence confocal lase r scanning microscopy. These sites may perform a crucial executive role in the morphogenesis of human extra-embryonic membranes, and also may establis h polarity in the amniotic epithelium and mediate the branching pattern of growth essential to the production of the chorionic villus tree.