title: In vivo MRI assessment of placental and foetal oxygenation changes in a rat model of growth restriction using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether changes in BOLD signal intensities following hyperoxygenation are related to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  IUGR was induced in pregnant rats by ligating the left vascular uterine pedicle at day 16 of gestation. BOLD MR imaging using a balanced steady-state free-precession (balanced-SSFP) sequence on a 1.5-T system was performed on day 19. Signal intensities (SI) before and after maternal hyperoxygenation were compared in the maternal liver and in control and growth-restricted foetoplacental units (FPUs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal hyperoxygenation resulted in a significant increase in SI in all regions of interest (P < 0.05) in the 18 rats. In the control group, the SI (mean ± SD) increased by 21 % ± 15 in placentas (n = 74) and 13 % ± 8.5 in foetuses (n = 53). In the IUGR group, the increase was significantly lower: 6.5 % ± 4 in placentas (n = 36) and 7 %± 5.5 in foetuses (n = 34) (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BOLD MRI allows non-invasive assessment of the foetoplacental response to maternal hyperoxygenation in the rat and demonstrates its alteration in an IUGR model. This imaging method may provide a useful adjunct for the early diagnosis, evaluation, and management of human IUGR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Intra-uterine growth restriction is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. • Blood oxygen level-dependent MRI non-invasively assesses foetoplacental response to maternal hyperoxygenation. • In the rat, foetoplacental response to maternal hyperoxygenation is altered in IUGR. • Functional MRI may help to assess human IUGR.
authors: INSERM, U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, 56 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France. sabinemacron@gmail.com
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Aimot-Macron
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Salomon
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Deloison
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Thiam
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Cuenod
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Clement
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Siauve
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen