title: A longitudinal study of placental perfusion using dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in murine pregnancy.
abstract: To evaluate changes in placental perfusion with advancing gestation in normal murine pregnancy using dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).
  
  
  
  Seven timed-pregnant CD-1 mice underwent DCE-MRI scanning longitudinally on gestational days (GD) 13, 15 and 17. Placentas were segmented into high (HPZ) and low perfusion zones (LPZ) using tissue similarity mapping. Blood perfusion of the respective regions and the whole placenta was quantified using the steepest slope method. The diameter of the maternal central canal (CC) was also measured.
  
  
  
  An increase in perfusion was observed between GD13 and GD17 in the overall placenta (p = 0.04) and in the HPZ (p = 0.02). Although perfusion in the LPZ showed a slight increasing trend, it was not significant (p = 0.07). Perfusion, in units of ml/min/100 ml, in the overall placenta and the HPZ was respectively 61.2 ± 31.2 and 106.2 ± 56.3 at GD13 (n = 19 placentas); 90.3 ± 43.7 and 139 ± 55.4 at GD15 (n = 20); and 104.9 ± 76.1 and 172.2 ± 85.6 at GD17 (n = 14). The size of the CC increased with advancing gestation (p < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Using longitudinal DCE-MRI, the gestational age-dependent perfusion change in the normal murine placenta and in its regional compartments was quantified. In mid and late gestations, placental constituent regions differ significantly in their perfusion rates. The CC diameter also showed increase with advancing gestation, which may be playing an important role toward the gestational age-dependent increase in placental perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Brijesh Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA. Electronic address: jneelava@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Jaladhar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neelavalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Uday
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szalai
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Nihar R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Tinnakorn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaiworapongsa
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Andrade
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Lendulet Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Nandor Gabor
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Than
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: E Mark
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Haacke
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Central canal; Contrast enhanced; Junctional zone; Labyrinth zone; Mice