Abstract: Objective： To investigate the global gene expression alteration between the placentae undergoing assisted reproductive technology（ART） manipulation and the placenta derived from natural pregnancy, thus reflecting the association between such procedures and the ensuing offspring health. Methods： Three term placenta samples were obtained from patients who underwent in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer because of oviductal factors， along with three taken from those underment normal pregnancy. A Gene Chip Affymetrix HG?-U133 Plus 2.0 Array was utilized to view and analyze the genes. By means of qRT?-PCR， we certified microarray data from 10 of the dysregulated genes， 5 of which we located， through immunohistochemistry， more precisely in the placenta. Results： Twenty?-six differentially expressed genes were identified in the ART-treated placentae： 17 up-regulated； 9 down-regulated. Eighteen of these were classified into six groups according to critical placental functions： immune response； transmembrane transport； metabolism； oxidative stress； cell differentiation； and a body of other functions. Genes involved in immune response， such as ERAP2 and STAT4， as well as those regulating cell differentiation， such as MUC1， were discerned to be differentially expressed. These were located in the placental villus tissues， in either the cytoplasm or the membrane of syncytiotrophoblastic cells. Conclusions： Differentially extressed genes in the placentae derived from ART treatment have been certified in our study. Abnormal profiles of critical placental function genes， such as ERAP2， STAT4 and MUC1， may be valuable in understanding how the placenta affects fetal programming， along with possible associations between ART treatment and offspring health.

Key words: Genome, human, Microchip analytical procedures, Reproductive techniques, assisted, Placenta, Autoimmunity