Fig. 2. Effects of Cx43 antisense on the morphological differentiation of trophoblasts. Cytotrophoblasts isolated from human placentas were cultured in the presence of a scrambled antisense (Control) or with a specific Cx43 antisense (Cx43 antisense). After 72 hours of culture, the cells were fixed, immunostained with anti-desmoplakin monoclonal antibody and counterstained with DAPI. Large syncytia were observed in control cells (a) as immunofluorescent staining disappeared when cells have fused to form the syncytiotrophoblast. By contrast, immunoflurescent staining can be observed at the boundaries between aggregated cytotrophoblasts in cells treated with a specific Cx43 antisense (b).