1. Trophoblast and fibrotic regions: disorganised trophoblast in pre-eclamptic placenta
H&E stained placental chorion illustrated nuclear accumulations and the villous tree components (Figure 1A, 1B). As frequently reported in literature13, 35, EO-PE placenta was characterised by increased syncytial knotting (Figure 1B) in comparison to term control tissue (Figure 1A). As depicted in Figure 1, MPM imaging of unstained tissue (Figures 1C,1D, Figure S1) and stained tissue (Figures 1E-1H) provided significantly more detailed information about the structural organisation of the trophoblast. Term control placenta was characterized by a structured trophoblastic layer (Figure 1C). Nuclei were closely arranged to each other, and cytoplasmic space was small (inset Figure 1C). Trophoblast of the EO-PE case was disorganised, and numerous nuclear accumulations were present (Figure 1D and Figure S1B & S2A). Nuclei were unevenly distributed with larger appearing cytoplasmic spaces between nuclei (inset Figure 1D). Additionally, excessive collagen accumulation, i.e., fibrosis, was especially observed in stem villi of EO-PE placenta (Figures S2A, S2B).