We have investigated the functional characteristics of term human placental villous explants kept in long-term (7-11 days) culture. Fragments of placental villous tissue (approximately 5-10 mg wet wt) were cultured in supplemented CMRL-1066 culture medium for up to 11 days. After the first day of culture, the syncytiotrophoblast appeared vacuolated and eventually degenerated. However, a new syncytiotrophoblast developed by day 4, being indistinguishable from that of a fresh placenta by 11 days. Release of human chorionic gonadotrophin increased and activity of lactate dehydrogenase in culture medium decreased with culture time. Transport variables were measured over the first 7 days of culture. Basal (86)Rb efflux was reduced with time in culture and was inhibited by Ba2+, suggesting the efflux was mediated by K+ channels. At all stages of culture, (86)Rb efflux was stimulated by ATP, hyposmotic medium, and ANG II. A complex pattern of efflux changes with culture time and type of stimulator was observed, suggesting that several compartments of the tissue contributed to stimulated efflux. This culture system provides opportunities for studies of chronic regulation of placental function.

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Exposing [Bi(OR)3(toluene)]2 (1, R = OC6F5) to different solvents leads to the formation of larger polymetallic bismuth oxo alkoxides via ether elimination/oligomerization reactions. Three different compounds were obtained depending upon the conditions: Bi4(mu 4-O)(mu-OR)6(mu 3-OBi(mu-OR)3)2(C6H5CH3) (2), Bi8(mu 4-O)2(mu 3-O)2(mu 2-OR)16 (3), Bi6(mu 3-O)4(mu 3-OR)(mu 3-OBi(OR)4)3 (4). Compounds 2 and 3 can also be synthesized via an alcoholysis reaction between BiPh3 and ROH in refluxing dichloromethane or chloroform. Related oxo complexes NaBi4(mu 3-O)2(OR)9(THF)2 (5) and Na2Bi4(mu 3-O)2(OR)10(THF)2 (6) were obtained from BiCl3 and NaOR in THF. The synthesis of 1 and Bi(OC6Cl5)3 via salt elimination was successful when performed in toluene as solvent. For compounds 2-6 the single-crystal X-ray structures were determined. Variable-temperature NMR spectra are reported for 2, 3, and 5.

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