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Letter

Nature Genetics 25, 311–314 (1 July 2000) | doi:10.1038/77076

The glial cells missing-1 protein is essential for branching morphogenesis in the chorioallantoic placenta

Lynn Anson-Cartwright , Kerri Dawson , Doug Holmyard , Susan J. Fisher , Robert A. Lazzarini & James C. Cross

Trophoblast cells of the placenta are established at the blastocyst stage and differentiate into specialized subtypes after implantation. In mice, the outer layer of the placenta consists of trophoblast giant cells that invade the uterus and promote maternal blood flow to the implantation site by producing cytokines with angiogenic and vasodilatory actions.