The aim of this study was to test whether or not adaptations in partial, total and specific
oxygen diffusive conductances occur in the placentae of women who smoke cigarettes
during pregnancy and help to compensate for intrauterine fetal hypoxic stress. Tissue
sections were randomly sampled from human term placentae divided into two groups (non-
smokers and smokers) according to maternal smoking status. In smokers, status was
expressed as either declared smoking rate or level of plasma cotinine (the major metabolite …