Introduction: ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K A T P channels) have been identified in a variety of tissues. Nevertheless, the presence and role of such metabolism-sensitive K + channels still remain to be unraveled in the reproductive system. Methods: The study evaluates the presence of K A T P channel subunits in human term placental explants by immunohistochemistry, proximity ligation assay, Western blot and RT-PCR techniques. The potential involvement of K A T P channels in human placental lactogen (hPL) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) release has been assessed radioimmunologically from human term placental explants incubated in the presence of different K A T P channel modulators. Results: Immunolocalization of the K A T P channel subunits documented both the Kir6.2 and SUR2 subunits in the syncytiotrophoblast of human term placenta. Their colocalization was demonstrated by proximity ligation assay and their presence was further confirmed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR. Kir6.1 subunit was immunolocalized in blood vessels media. SUR1 was not expressed at the mRNA level. Incubation of human term placental explants in the presence of increasing concentrations of modulators of K A T P channels such as glibenclamide, tolbutamide, pinacidil or diazoxide did not affect the measured hCG and hPL secretory rates. Discussion: Our study reports, for the first time, the presence of the K A T P channel subunits Kir6.2 and SUR2 in the human term syncytiotrophoblast. However, under the present experimental conditions, the activation or inhibition of these putative K A T P channels by different pharmacological agents did not affect the hPL and hCG secretory rate of human term placental explants. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that the human term syncytiotrophoblast might be endowed with K A T P channels. Further studies should clarify their implication in the syncytiotrophoblast ionic homeostasis and hormone regulation.