Placentation in the Mouse

The placenta is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy and develops as a multipurpose organ. Throughout gestation, it provides endocrine function that controls maternal adaptations to maintain pregnancy and it facilitates nutrient and oxygen delivery to the embryo/fetus as well as the removal of waste. A powerful laboratory model, the mouse has contributed to our understanding of embryonic and placental development. The goal of this article is to review the current understanding of placentation in the mouse including basic development, structure, composition, function, and recent advances in experimental approaches used in the field.