In utero time-course assessment of mouse embryo development using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging

QUEST MRI assessment of fetal brain oxidative stress in utero

PURPOSE

To achieve sufficient precision of R1 (=1/T1) maps of the fetal brain in utero to perform QUEnch-assiSTed (QUEST) MRI in which a significant anti-oxidant-induced reduction in R1 indicates oxidative stress.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mouse fetuses in utero were gently and non-surgically isolated and secured using a homemade 3D printed clip. Using a commercial receive-only surface coil, brain maps of R1, an index sensitive to excessive and continuous free radical production, were collected using either a conventional Cartesian or a non-Cartesian (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction) progressive saturation sequence. Data were normalized to the shortest TR time to remove bias. To assess oxidative stress, brain R1 maps were acquired on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model of preterm birth ± rosiglitazone (ROSI, which has anti-oxidant properties); phosphate buffered saline (PBS) controls ± ROSI were similarly studied.

RESULTS

Sufficient quality R1 maps were generated by a combination of the 3D printed clip, surface coil detection, non-Cartesian sequence, and normalization scheme ensuring minimal fetal movement, good detection sensitivity, reduced motion artifacts, and minimal baseline variations, respectively. In the LPS group, the combined caudate-putamen and thalamus region R1 was reduced (p < 0.05) with ROSI treatment consistent with brain oxidative stress; no evidence for oxidative stress was found in the pons region. In the PBS control group, brain R1's did not change with ROSI treatment.

CONCLUSION

The sensitivity and reproducibility of the combined approaches described herein enabled first-time demonstration of regional oxidative stress measurements of the fetal brain in utero using QUEST MRI.

Recent Progress in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Embryonic and Neonatal Mouse Brain

The laboratory mouse has been widely used as a model system to investigate the genetic control mechanisms of mammalian brain development. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool to characterize changes in brain anatomy in mutant mouse strains and injury progression in mouse models of fetal and neonatal brain injury. Progress in the last decade has enabled us to acquire MRI data with increasing anatomical details from the embryonic and neonatal mouse brain. High-resolution ex vivo MRI, especially with advanced diffusion MRI methods, can visualize complex microstructural organizations in the developing mouse brain. In vivo MRI of the embryonic mouse brain, which is critical for tracking anatomical changes longitudinally, has become available. Applications of these techniques may lead to further insights into the complex and dynamic processes of brain development.

Quantitative T2 changes and susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in murine pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate gestational age-dependent changes in the T2 relaxation time in normal murine placentas in vivo. The role of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in visualization of the murine fetal anatomy was also elucidated.

METHODS

Timed-pregnant CD-1 mice at gestational day (GD) 12 and GD17 underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Multi-echo spin echo and SWI data were acquired. The placental T2 values on GD12 and GD17 were quantified. To account for the influence of systemic maternal physiological factors on placental perfusion, maternal muscle was used as a reference for T2 normalization. A linear mixed-effects model was used to fit the normalized T2 values, and the significance of the coefficients was tested. Fetal SWI images were processed and reviewed for venous vasculature and skeletal structures.

RESULTS

The average placental T2 value decreased significantly on GD17 (40.17 ± 4.10 ms) compared to the value on GD12 (55.78 ± 8.13 ms). The difference in normalized T2 values also remained significant (p = 0.001). Using SWI, major fetal venous structures like the cardinal vein, the subcardinal vein, and the portal vein were visualized on GD12. In addition, fetal skeletal structures could also be discerned on GD17.

CONCLUSION

The T2 value of a normal murine placenta decreases with advancing gestation. SWI provided clear visualization of the fetal venous vasculature and bony structures. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

High-resolution MRI of early-stage mouse embryos

Both the availability of methods to manipulate genes and the completion of the mouse genome sequence have led to the generation of thousands of genetically modified mouse lines that provide a new platform for the study of mammalian development and developmental diseases. Phenotyping of mouse embryos has traditionally been performed on fixed embryos by the use of ex vivo histological, optical and high-resolution MRI techniques. Although potentially powerful, longitudinal imaging of individual animals is difficult or impossible with conventional optical methods because of the inaccessibility of mouse embryos inside the maternal uterus. To address this problem, we present a method of imaging the mouse embryo from stages as early as embryonic day (E)10.5, close to the onset of organogenesis in most physiological systems. This method uses a self-gated MRI protocol, combined with image registration, to obtain whole-embryo high-resolution (100 µm isotropic) three-dimensional images. Using this approach, we demonstrate high contrast in the cerebral vasculature, limbs, spine and central nervous system without the use of contrast agents. These results indicate the potential of MRI for the longitudinal imaging of developing mouse embryos in utero and for future applications in analyzing mutant mouse phenotypes.

MRI to study embryonic development

Non-invasive imaging of embryonic development has been an ultimate goal for embryologists for many years. Due to advances in MRI hardware and software, the extremely high spatial resolution necessary to study embryos can now be obtained. Fixed embryos can be scanned to visualize the complex 3D morphology of the developing embryo in great detail, sometimes referred to as MR histology. As the sample remains intact, it is a suitable tool for the study of rare specimens, or for screening of huge numbers of transgenic embryos. In vivo MRI can be used for time course studies of either normal development or the progression of congenital malformations.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in experimental models

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is the modality of choice for clinical studies of the heart and vasculature, offering detailed images of both structure and function with high temporal resolution.

Small animals are increasingly used for genetic and translational research, in conjunction with models of common pathologies such as myocardial infarction. In all cases, effective methods for characterising a wide range of functional and anatomical parameters are crucial for robust studies.

CMR is the gold-standard for the non-invasive examination of these models, although physiological differences, such as rapid heart rate, make this a greater challenge than conventional clinical imaging. However, with the help of specialised magnetic resonance (MR) systems, novel gating strategies and optimised pulse sequences, high-quality images can be obtained in these animals despite their small size.

In this review, we provide an overview of the principal CMR techniques for small animals for example cine, angiography and perfusion imaging, which can provide measures such as ejection fraction, vessel anatomy and local blood flow, respectively. In combination with MR contrast agents, regional dysfunction in the heart can also be identified and assessed. We also discuss optimal methods for analysing CMR data, particularly the use of semi-automated tools for parameter measurement to reduce analysis time. Finally, we describe current and emerging methods for imaging the developing heart, aiding characterisation of congenital cardiovascular defects.

Advanced small animal CMR now offers an unparalleled range of cardiovascular assessments. Employing these methods should allow new insights into the structural, functional and molecular basis of the cardiovascular system.

Screening for embryonic loss during in utero development of mice with a human 1.5 Tesla clinical MRI scanner

PURPOSE

To establish in utero MRI-scanning of mouse implantation sites in a 1.5 Tesla whole-body human clinical scanner for evaluation of impaired implantation, placental or developmental defects due to genetic alterations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pregnant C57Bl/6 wild-type and Cx31-deficient mice revealing placental defects were analyzed in utero using a 1.5 Tesla whole-body clinical scanner in combination with a 3-cm-diameter single loop (slice thickness: 1.2 mm). Imaging of implantation sites was evaluated from 6.5-13.5 dpc and amount of implantation sites and in vivo development was analyzed during the critical phase of placentation from 10.5-13.5 dpc.

RESULTS

This method provided high resolution in plane images permitting confident identification of all implantation sites from 6.5 dpc onward. A loss of 60% of Cx31-deficient embryos was demonstrated compared with controls. Repeated anesthesia as well as imaging protocols produced no gross malformations in the surviving mice.

CONCLUSION

Using a human clinical MRI scanner high resolution imaging of the entire uterus of the mice and all the embryos inside could be performed. This method is well suited to noninvasively monitor and quantify embryo implantation and to follow this dynamic process in vivo without compromising pregnancy progression and embryonic development.

Ultrasound and magnetic resonance microimaging of mouse development

Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and magnetic resonance microimaging (micro-MRI) provide noninvasive, high-resolution images in mouse embryos and neonates, enabling volumetric and functional analyses of phenotypes, including longitudinal imaging of individual mice over critical stages of in utero and early-postnatal development. In this chapter, we describe the underlying principles of UBM and micro-MRI, including the advantages and limitations of these approaches for studies of mouse development, and providing a number of examples to illustrate their use. To date, most imaging studies have focused on the developing nervous and cardiovascular systems, which are also reflected in the examples shown in this chapter, but we also discuss the future application of these methods to other organ systems.

Three-dimensional, in vivo MRI with self-gating and image coregistration in the mouse

Motion during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans routinely results in undesirable image artifact or blurring. Since high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the mouse requires long scan times for satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and image quality, motion-related artifacts are likely over much of the body and limit applications of mouse MRI. In this investigation, we explored the use of self-gated imaging methods and image coregistration for improving image quality in the presence of motion. Self-gated signal results from a modified 3D gradient-echo sequence showed detection of periodic respiratory and cardiac motion in the adult mouse-with excellent comparison to traditional measurements, sensitivity to respiration-induced tissue changes in the brain, and even detection of embryonic cardiac motion in utero. Serial image coregistration with rapidly-acquired, low-SNR volumes further enabled detection and correction of bulk changes in embryo location during in utero imaging sessions and subsequent reconstruction of high-quality images. These methods, in combination, are shown to expand the range of applications for 3D mouse MRI, enabling late-stage embryonic heart imaging and introducing the possibility of longitudinal developmental studies from embryonic stages through adulthood.

Non-invasive tracking of avian development in vivo by MRI

Conventional microscopic techniques, to study embryonic development, require large numbers of embryos and are invasive, making follow-up impossible. We explored the use of in vivo MRI to study embryonic development, in general, and cardiovascular development in particular, over time. Wild-type quail embryos (n = 11) were imaged at embryonic days 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, covering the main time course of embryonic heart development. On each imaging day cardiac morphology was evaluated and embryonic length was measured. MRI-embryos as well as control embryos (n = 11) were sacrificed at day 11 and scored for external malformations, while embryonic wet weight and stage were determined. In addition, venous clipped embryos (n = 4), known to develop cardiovascular malformations, were scanned at regular intervals and sacrificed at day 9 for histological analysis ex vivo. We were able to follow heart development of individual quail embryos inside their shell non-invasively over time, with sufficient detail to study cardiac morphology in vivo. We did not find any adverse effect of the repeated MRI examinations on morphology, length, or weight. Prenatally diagnosed malformations, like ventricular septal defects and aortic arch interruptions were confirmed by histology. In conclusion, micro-MRI can be used to evaluate in vivo early embryonic development and to diagnose cardiovascular malformations prenatally.

In vivo virtual histology of mouse embryogenesis by ultrasound biomicroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging

Feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) for sequential in vivo study of mouse embryo development between Days 6.5 and 13.5 of pregnancy was assessed in a first experiment. A second trial, based on the results of the first, determined the accuracy of UBM for imaging morphogenesis from implantation to the late embryo stage (Days 4.5 to 15.5). MRI allowed imaging of the entire uterus and all gestational sacs and embryos inside whilst the small scanning range of UBM precluded accurate counting of fetuses; however, its high resolution identified the decidual reaction at implantation sites from Day 4.5. At later stages, it was possible to assess key morphogenetic processes such as differentiation of the placenta, the cephalic region, the thoracic and abdominal organs, the skeletal system and the limbs, and dynamic structures such as the cardiovascular system. Thus, both techniques are reliable for in utero imaging of mouse embryo development. MRI may be more appropriate for studying embryo lethality and intrauterine growth retardation, because the entire uterus can be viewed. UBM may be more suitable for studies of cellular components of organs and tissues and assessment of haemodynamic changes in the circulatory system.

Mn enhancement and respiratory gating for in utero MRI of the embryonic mouse central nervous system

The mouse is the preferred model organism for genetic studies of mammalian brain development. MRI has potential for in utero studies of mouse brain development, but has been limited previously by challenges of maximizing image resolution and contrast while minimizing artifacts due to physiological motion. Manganese (Mn)-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) studies have demonstrated central nervous system (CNS) contrast enhancement in mice from the earliest postnatal stages. The purpose of this study was to expand MEMRI to in utero studies of the embryonic CNS in combination with respiratory gating to decrease motion artifacts. We investigated MEMRI-facilitated CNS segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) analysis in wild-type mouse embryos from midgestation, and explored effects of Mn on embryonic survival and image contrast. Motivated by observations that MEMRI provided an effective method for visualization and volumetric analysis of embryonic CNS structures, especially in ventral regions, we used MEMRI to examine Nkx2.1 mutant mice that were previously reported to have ventral forebrain defects. Quantitative MEMRI analysis of Nkx2.1 knockout mice demonstrated volumetric changes in septum (SE) and basal ganglia (BG), as well as alterations in hypothalamic structures. This method may provide an effective means for in utero analysis of CNS phenotypes in a variety of mouse mutants.

MRI in mouse developmental biology

Mice are used in many studies to determine the role of genetic and molecular factors in mammalian development and human congenital diseases. MRI has emerged as a major method for analyzing mutant and transgenic phenotypes in developing mice, at both embryonic and neonatal stages. Progress in this area is reviewed, with emphasis on the use of MRI to analyze cardiovascular and neural development in mice. Comparisons are made with other imaging technologies, including optical and ultrasound imaging, discussing the potential strengths and weaknesses of MRI and identifying the future challenges for MRI in mouse developmental biology.

Contrast-enhanced MRI of right ventricular abnormalities in Cx43 mutant mouse embryos

Imaging of the mammalian cardiac right ventricle (RV) is particularly challenging, especially when a two-dimensional method such as conventional histology is used to evaluate the morphology of this asymmetric, crescent-shaped chamber. MRI may improve the characterization of mutants with RV phenotypes by allowing analysis of the samples in any plane and by facilitating three-dimensional image reconstruction. MRI was used to examine the conditional knockout Cx43-PCKO mouse line known to have RV malformations. To help delineate the cardiovascular system and facilitate identification of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), embryonic day (E) 17.5 embryos were perfusion fixed through the umbilical vein followed by a gadolinium-based contrast agent mixed in 7% gelatin. Micro-MRI experiments were performed at 7 T and followed by paraffin embedding of specimens, histological sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Imaging of up to four embryos simultaneously allowed for higher throughput than traditional individual imaging techniques, while intravascular contrast afforded excellent signal-to-noise characteristics. All control embryos (n = 4) and heterozygous Cx43 knockout embryos (n = 4) had normal-appearing right ventricular outflow tract contours by MRI. Obvious abnormalities in the RVOT, including abnormal bulging and infiltration of contrast into the wall of the RV, were seen in three out of four Cx43-PCKO mutants with MRI. Furthermore, three-dimensional reconstruction of MR images with orthogonal projections as well as maximum-intensity projection allowed for visualization of the relationship of infundibular bulging segments to the pulmonary trunk in Cx43-PCKO mutant hearts. The addition of MRI to standard histology in the characterization of RV malformations in mutant mouse embryos aids in the assessment and understanding of morphologic abnormalities. Flexibility in the viewing of MR images, which can be retrospectively sectioned in any desired orientation, is particularly useful in the investigation of the RV, an asymmetric chamber that is difficult to analyze with two-dimensional techniques.

Imaging tools for the developmental biologist: ultrasound biomicroscopy of mouse embryonic development

Progress has been rapid in the elucidation of genes responsible for cardiac development. Strategies to ascertain phenotypes, however, have lagged behind advances in genomics, particularly in the in vivo mouse embryo, considered a model organism for mammalian development, and for human development and disease. Over the past several years, our laboratory and others have pioneered a variety of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM)-Doppler approaches to study in vivo development in both normal and mutant mouse embryos. This state-of-the-art review will discuss the development and potential of ultrasound biomicroscopy as a tool for the in vivo imaging and phenotyping of both cardiac and non-cardiac organ systems in the early developing mouse. Broad, long-term research objectives are to define living structure-function relationships during critical periods of mammalian morphogenesis.

Multimodal imaging of mouse development: Tools for the postgenomic era

With the sequence of the mouse genome known, it is now possible to create or identify mutations in every gene to determine the molecules necessary for normal development. Consequently, there is a growing need for advanced phenotyping tools to best understand defects produced by altering gene function. Perhaps nothing is more satisfying than to directly observe a process in action; to disturb it and see for ourselves how the process changes before our very eyes. No doubt, this desire is what drove the invention of the very first microscopes and continues to this day to fuel progress in the field of biological imaging. Because mouse embryos are small and develop embedded within many tissue layers within the nurturing environment of the mother, directly observing the dynamic, micro- and nanoscopic events of early mammalian development has proven to be one of the greater challenges for imaging scientists. Here, I will review some of the imaging methods being used to study mouse development, highlighting the results obtained from imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging for detection and analysis of mouse phenotypes

With the enormous and growing number of experimental and genetic mouse models of human disease, there is a need for efficient means of characterizing abnormalities in mouse anatomy and physiology. Adaptation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the scale of the mouse promises to address this challenge and make major contributions to biomedical research by non-invasive assessment in the mouse. MRI is already emerging as an enabling technology providing informative and meaningful measures in a range of mouse models. In this review, recent progress in both in vivo and post mortem imaging is reported. Challenges unique to mouse MRI are also identified. In particular, the needs for high-throughput imaging and comparative anatomical analyses in large biological studies are described and current efforts at handling these issues are presented.

Molecular imaging of the embryonic heart: Fables and facts on 3D imaging of gene expression patterns

Molecular imaging, which is the three-dimensional (3D) visualization of gene expression patterns, is indispensable for the study of the function of genes in cardiac development. The instrumentation, as well as the development of specific contrast agents for molecular imaging, has shown spectacular advances in the last decade. In this review, the spatial resolutions, contrast agents, and applications of these imaging methods in the field of cardiac embryology are discussed. Apart from 3D reconstructions from histological sections, not many of these methods have been applied in embryological research. This review shows that, for most methods, neither the spatial resolutions nor the specificity and applicability of the contrast agents are adequate for the reliable imaging of specific gene expression at the microscopic resolution required for embryological studies of small organs like the developing heart. Although a 3D reconstruction from sections will always suffer from imperfections, the resulting reconstructions meet the aim of most biological studies, especially since the original microscopic images are linked. With respect to imaging of gene expression, only histological sections and laser scanning microscopy provide the required resolution and specificity at the tissue and cellular level. Episcopic fluorescence image capturing and optical projection tomography are being used for microscopic phenotyping and lineage analysis, and both show potential for detailed molecular imaging. Other methods can be used very efficiently in rapid evaluation of biological experiments and high-throughput screens of large-scale gene expression profiling efforts when high spatial resolution is not required.

Magnetic resonance microscopy: recent advances and applications

Magnetic resonance microscopy is receiving increased attention as more researchers in the biological sciences are turning to non-invasive imaging to characterize development, perturbations, phenotypes and pathologies in model organisms ranging from amphibian embryos to adult rodents and even plants. The limits of spatial resolution are being explored as hardware improvements address the need for increased sensitivity. Recent developments include in vivo cell tracking, restricted diffusion imaging, functional magnetic resonance microscopy and three-dimensional mouse atlases. Important applications are also being developed outside biology in the fields of fluid mechanics, geology and chemistry.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents in the Study of Development

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a research tool in the study of development has increased in recent years due in part to improvements in spatial resolution, new imaging agents, and increased availability of MRI scanners. This chapter describes how contrast agent-enhanced MRI can be used to study development. In addition, we highlight some novel applications of contrast agent-enhanced MRI in biology that may be useful as tools for the study of development.