Functional phenotyping of the maternal albumin turnover in the mouse placenta by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop a tool for functional phenotyping of the maternal circulation in the mouse placenta.


METHODS
In utero macromolecular dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was performed on embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5), E13.5, and E18.5. Fluorescence analysis was also used for validation of the results.


RESULTS
The initial rate of contrast enhancement revealed an increased maternal blood volume fraction as the pregnancy progressed. Serial imaging of E10.5 and E13.5 placentas revealed a loss of contrast enhancement due to phagocytic uptake. A key application of macromolecular DCE-MRI would be to follow mouse pregnancies during fetal and placental manipulation including embryo transfer, tetraploid complementation, and fetal resorptions. We were able to resolve strain differences in ICR outbred mice carrying both ICR and C57Bl/6J embryos and to differentiate in utero resorptions from functional placentas.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results highlight the importance of the functional in utero analysis of placental vascularization in physiological phenotyping of transgenic mice and suggest MRI, particularly macromolecular DCE-MRI, as a non-invasive tool for the analysis of the placenta.
Plaks
Vicki
V
Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Sapoznik
Stav
S
Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Berkovitz
Elina
E
Veterinary Resources, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Haffner-Krausz
Rebecca
R
Veterinary Resources, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Dekel
Nava
N
Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Harmelin
Alon
A
Veterinary Resources, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Neeman
Michal
M
Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel. michal.neeman@weizmann.ac.il.
D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D010641:Phenotype; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011123:Polyploidy; D011247:Pregnancy; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media