Fig. 5

Effects of in utero alcohol exposure on histomorphometric characteristics of human placentae and on the expression of proteins from the placental barrier, the energy metabolism and the VEGF/PLGF family. a, b Immunohistochemistry performed against CD31 and toluidine blue counterstaining visualizing microvessels (brown) present in placental villi (blue) from control and alcohol-exposed groups collected at gestational ages ranging from [35–42 WG]. Note the marked reduction of the luminal area of microvessels in the alcohol-exposed group. c Percentage of villi classified by sizes in placentae from control and alcohol-exposed groups collected at gestational ages ranging from [35–42 WG]. d Luminal vascular area per size of villi in placentae from control and alcohol-exposed groups collected at gestational ages ranging from [35–42 WG].*p < 0.05 vs the control group using the unpaired t test. e Time-course of the villous densities in placentae from control and alcohol-exposed groups for classes of gestational ages [20–25 WG], [25–35 WG] and [35–42 WG]. ^#### p < 0.0001 vs Ctrl [20–25 WG] after one way ANOVA analysis; ****p < 0.0001 between Control and Alcohol groups after impaired t test analysis. f Time-course of the vessel area in placentae from control and alcohol-exposed groups for classes of gestational ages [20–25 WG], [25–35 WG] and [35–42 WG].^# p < 0.05 vs Ctrl [20–25 WG [after one way ANOVA analysis; *p < 0.05 between Control and Alcohol groups after impaired t test analysis. g-l Quantification by Western blot of ZO-1, MCT-1, PLGF, VEGFA, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 protein levels in human placentae from control and alcohol-exposed groups. *p < 0.05 vs the control group using Mann and Whitney test