title: Effects of manganese (Mn++) and iron (Fe+++) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of human placenta and amniotic fluid.
abstract: The contrast and intensity of a magnetic resonance image (MRI) is affected in part by the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and spin-spin relaxation time (T2). Certain paramagnetic metal ions can alter these parameters suggesting that they may be useful contrast agents in MRI. In this study, Mn++ and Fe+++ were examined for their effects on T1 and T2 in human placenta and amniotic fluid (AF) at concentrations between 0.002 and 2.0 mM. Both Mn++ and Fe+++ produced a dose-dependent decrease in placental and AF T1. The effects of Fe+++ were not pronounced, decreasing T1 only at the highest concentrations, and not to the same degree as Mn++. Placental T2 was also significantly decreased by Mn++, whereas Fe+++ had no effect. These differences may be due to molecular binding, uptake by the placenta, or the paramagnetic characteristics of the metals. The results suggest that Mn++ will alter human placental MRI for T1 and to a lesser extent T2-dependent imaging processes. Fe+++ should have little or no effect on human placental MRI, except at very high concentrations.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D002712:Chlorides; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008345:Manganese; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D010920:Placenta / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D008345:Manganese; C025340:manganese chloride; C024555:ferric chloride