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Candia AA, Jiménez T, Navarrete Á, Beñaldo F, Silva P, García-Herrera C, Sferruzzi-Perri AN, Krause BJ, González-Candia A, Herrera EA. Developmental Ultrasound Characteristics in Guinea Pigs: Similarities with Human Pregnancy. Vet Sci 2023; 10:144. [PMID: 36851448 PMCID: PMC9963037 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biometrical and blood flow examinations are fundamental for assessing fetoplacental development during pregnancy. Guinea pigs have been proposed as a good model to study fetal development and related gestational complications; however, longitudinal growth and blood flow changes in utero have not been properly described. This study aimed to describe fetal and placental growth and blood flow of the main intrauterine vascular beds across normal guinea pig pregnancy and to discuss the relevance of this data for human pregnancy. METHODS Pregnant guinea pigs were studied from day 25 of pregnancy until term (day ~70) by ultrasound and Doppler assessment. The results were compared to human data from the literature. RESULTS Measurements of biparietal diameter (BPD), cranial circumference (CC), abdominal circumference, and placental biometry, as well as pulsatility index determination of umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery (MCA), and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR), were feasible to determine across pregnancy, and they could be adjusted to linear or nonlinear functions. In addition, several of these parameters showed a high correlation coefficient and could be used to assess gestational age in guinea pigs. We further compared these data to ultrasound variables from human pregnancy with high similarities. CONCLUSIONS BPD and CC are the most reliable measurements to assess fetal growth in guinea pigs. Furthermore, this is the first report in which the MCA pulsatility index and CPR are described across guinea pig gestation. The guinea pig is a valuable model to assess fetal growth and blood flow distribution, variables that are comparable with human pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro A. Candia
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of O’Higgins, Rancagua 2841959, Chile
| | - Tamara Jiménez
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile
| | - Álvaro Navarrete
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
| | - Felipe Beñaldo
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile
| | - Pablo Silva
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile
| | - Claudio García-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
| | - Amanda N. Sferruzzi-Perri
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Bernardo J. Krause
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of O’Higgins, Rancagua 2841959, Chile
| | - Alejandro González-Candia
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of O’Higgins, Rancagua 2841959, Chile
| | - Emilio A. Herrera
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile
- International Center for Andean Studies (INCAS), University of Chile, Putre 1070000, Chile
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Vuoti E, Palosaari S, Peräniemi S, Tervahauta A, Kokki H, Kokki M, Tuukkanen J, Lehenkari P. In utero deposition of trace elements and metals in tissues. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2022; 73:127042. [PMID: 35905605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.127042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION All animals, including humans, are exposed to heavy metals which are known to accumulate in different tissues, especially in bone. During pregnancy, the maternal bone turnover is increased and the metals in the mother's body can be mobilized into the bloodstream. Heavy metals in maternal blood are known to pass through the placenta to the fetal blood and finally, deposited to bone tissue. However, there are no studies on the concentration of metals in the fetal solid tissues and until now, the rate of metal transfer from mother to fetus is not exactly known. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples of the blood, liver, placenta, and three different bones were collected from 17 pregnant ewes and their 27 fetuses. The animals had no known exposure to heavy metals. The concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Te, Ti, Tl, V, and Zn were analyzed using ICP-MS. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The concentration of Sb, Sn, Te, and Tl were under the detection limit in all the samples. The other metals were found in all maternal and fetal tissues, suggesting that all detectable metals cross the placenta. Blood concentrations were low compared to solid tissue concentrations. The concentrations of essential elements varied between maternal and fetal tissues, which could be explained by biological differences. The differences in concentrations of non-essential elements between the ewe and fetuses were smaller. The most significant differences were between maternal and fetal concentrations of Ba and Sr, which is at least partly explained by the mineralization degree of the bone. CONCLUSION Heavy metals accumulate in fetal solid tissues in sheep that are not directly exposed to heavy metals. Because of the differences in anatomy between human and sheep placenta, the accumulation in the tissue of human fetuses should be extrapolated cautiously. However, there might be some clinical relevance for fertile aged women who are exposed to heavy metals, such as women who work in the metal industry or who have undergone joint replacement surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Vuoti
- Medical Faculty, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Finland.
| | - Sanna Palosaari
- Medical Faculty, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sirpa Peräniemi
- University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Arja Tervahauta
- University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannu Kokki
- University of Eastern Finland, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Merja Kokki
- Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, P.O. Box 100, FI-70029, Finland
| | - Juha Tuukkanen
- Medical Faculty, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Finland
| | - Petri Lehenkari
- Medical Faculty, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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Pereira M, Smiley KO, Lonstein JS. Parental Behavior in Rodents. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 27:1-53. [PMID: 36169811 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97762-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Members of the order Rodentia are among the best-studied mammals for understanding the patterns, outcomes, and biological determinants of maternal and paternal caregiving. This research has provided a wealth of information but has historically focused on just a few rodents, mostly members of the two Myomorpha families that easily breed and can be studied within a laboratory setting (including laboratory rats, mice, hamsters, voles, gerbils). It is unclear how well this small collection of animals represents the over 2000 species of extant rodents. This chapter provides an overview of the hormonal and neurobiological systems involved in parental care in rodents, with a purposeful eye on providing information known or could be gleaned about parenting in various less-traditional members of Rodentia. We conclude from this analysis that the few commonly studied rodents are not necessarily even representative of the highly diverse members of Myomorpha, let alone other rodent suborders, and that additional laboratory and field studies of members of this order more broadly would surely provide invaluable information toward revealing a more representative picture of the rich diversity in rodent parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pereira
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Kristina O Smiley
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology & Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Joseph S Lonstein
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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Mohammad S, Bhattacharjee J, Vasanthan T, Harris CS, Bainbridge SA, Adamo KB. Metabolomics to understand placental biology: Where are we now? Tissue Cell 2021; 73:101663. [PMID: 34653888 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Metabolomics, the application of analytical chemistry methodologies to survey the chemical composition of a biological system, is used to globally profile and compare metabolites in one or more groups of samples. Given that metabolites are the terminal end-products of cellular metabolic processes, or 'phenotype' of a cell, tissue, or organism, metabolomics is valuable to the study of the maternal-fetal interface as it has the potential to reveal nuanced complexities of a biological system as well as differences over time or between individuals. The placenta acts as the primary site of maternal-fetal exchange, the success of which is paramount to growth and development of offspring during pregnancy and beyond. Although the study of metabolomics has proven moderately useful for the screening, diagnosis, and understanding of the pathophysiology of pregnancy complications, the placental metabolome in the context of a healthy pregnancy remains poorly characterized and understood. Herein, we discuss the technical aspects of metabolomics and review the current literature describing the placental metabolome in human and animal models, in the context of health and disease. Finally, we highlight areas for future opportunities in the emerging field of placental metabolomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mohammad
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - J Bhattacharjee
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - T Vasanthan
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - C S Harris
- Department of Biology & Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - S A Bainbridge
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - K B Adamo
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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Schmidt A, Schmidt A, Markert UR. The road (not) taken - Placental transfer and interspecies differences. Placenta 2021; 115:70-77. [PMID: 34562829 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Species differences are among the main reasons for the high failure rate of preclinical studies. A better awareness and understanding of these differences might help to improve the outcome of preclinical research. In reproduction, the placenta is the central organ regulating fetal exposure to a substance circulating in the maternal organism. Exact information about placental transfer can help to better estimate the toxic potential of a substance. From an evolutionary point of view, the chorioallantoic placenta is the organ with the highest anatomical diversity among species. Moreover, frequently used animal models in reproduction belong to rodents and lagomorphs, two groups that are characterized by the generation of an additional type of placenta, which is crucial for fetal development, but absent from humans: the inverted yolk sac placenta. Taken together, the translatability of placental transfer studies from laboratory animals to humans is challenging, which is supported by the fact that numerous species-dependent toxic effects are described in literature. Thus, reliable human-relevant data are frequently lacking and the toxic potential of chemicals and pharmaceuticals for humans can hardly be estimated, often resulting in recommendations that medical treatments or exposure to chemicals should be avoided for safety reasons. Although species differences of placental anatomy have been described frequently and the need for human-relevant research models has been emphasized, analyses of substances with species-dependent placental transfer have been performed only sporadically. Here, we present examples for species-specific placental transfer, including that of nanoparticles and pharmaceuticals, and discuss potential underlying mechanisms. With respect to the COVID 19-pandemic it might be of interest that some antiviral drugs are reported to feature species-specific placental transfer. Further, differences in placental structure and antibody transfer may affect placental transfer of ZIKA virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Schmidt
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
| | - Astrid Schmidt
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Udo R Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
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Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are stored in the embryo throughout the preimplantation development. Yet, the role of LDs in the embryo remains unknown. Embryonic diapause (ED) is a temporary arrest of an embryo when it waits for the uterine receptivity signal to implant. We provide evidence that LDs play a crucial role in maintaining ED. Diapausing embryos exhibit increased release of exosomes reflecting elevated embryonic signaling to the mother. During ED, the decrease in lipid is caused by a switch from carbohydrate metabolism to lipid catabolism. We have also shown that presence of LDs in the oocytes of various mammals positively corelates with their species-specific length of diapause. Our results reveal the functional role of LDs in embryonic development. Embryonic diapause (ED) is a temporary arrest of an embryo at the blastocyst stage when it waits for the uterine receptivity signal to implant. ED used by over 100 species may also occur in normally “nondiapausing” mammals when the uterine receptivity signal is blocked or delayed. A large number of lipid droplets (LDs) are stored throughout the preimplantation embryo development, but the amount of lipids varies greatly across different mammalian species. Yet, the role of LDs in the mammalian egg and embryo remains unknown. Here, using a mouse model, we provide evidence that LDs play a crucial role in maintaining ED. By mechanical removal of LDs from zygotes, we demonstrated that delipidated embryos are unable to survive during ED. LDs are not essential for normal prompt implantation, without ED. We further demonstrated that with the progression of ED, the amount of intracellular lipid reduces, and composition changes. This decrease in lipid is caused by a switch from carbohydrate metabolism to lipid catabolism in diapausing blastocysts, which also exhibit increased release of exosomes reflecting elevated embryonic signaling to the mother. We have also shown that presence of LDs in the oocytes of various mammals positively corelates with their species-specific length of diapause. Our results reveal the functional role of LDs in embryonic development. These results can help to develop diagnostic techniques and treatment of recurrent implantation failure and will likely ignite further studies in developmental biology and reproductive medicine fields.
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Markovic S, Roussel T, Neeman M, Frydman L. Deuterium Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Discrimination of Fetoplacental Metabolism in Normal and L-NAME-Induced Preeclamptic Mice. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11060376. [PMID: 34200839 PMCID: PMC8230481 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11060376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent magnetic resonance studies in healthy and cancerous organs have concluded that deuterated metabolites possess highly desirable properties for mapping non-invasively and, as they happen, characterizing glycolysis and other biochemical processes in animals and humans. A promising avenue of this deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) approach involves looking at the fate of externally administered 2H6,6′-glucose, as it is taken up and metabolized into different products as a function of time. This study employs deuterium magnetic resonance to follow the metabolism of wildtype and preeclamptic pregnant mice models, focusing on maternal and fetoplacental organs over ≈2 h post-injection. 2H6,6′-glucose uptake was observed in the placenta and in specific downstream organs such as the fetal heart and liver. Main metabolic products included 2H3,3′-lactate and 2H-water, which were produced in individual fetoplacental organs with distinct time traces. Glucose uptake in the organs of most preeclamptic animals appeared more elevated than in the control mice (p = 0.02); also higher was the production of 2H-water arising from this glucose. However, the most notable differences arose in the 2H3,3′-lactate concentration, which was ca. two-fold more abundant in the placenta (p = 0.005) and in the fetal (p = 0.01) organs of preeclamptic-like animals, than in control mice. This is consistent with literature reports about hypoxic conditions arising in preeclamptic and growth-restricted pregnancies, which could lead to an enhancement in anaerobic glycolysis. Overall, the present measurements suggest that DMI, a minimally invasive approach, may offer new ways of studying and characterizing health and disease in mammalian pregnancies, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Markovic
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
| | - Tangi Roussel
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, 13385 Marseille, France;
| | - Michal Neeman
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
| | - Lucio Frydman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-8934-4093
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8
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Barbeito CG, Acuña F, Miglino MA, Portiansky EL, Flamini MA. Placentation and embryo death in the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus). Placenta 2021; 108:97-102. [PMID: 33857820 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Caviomorpha are an exceptional group among rodents due to their extended gestational period and the delivery of precocial offspring. Among them, Lagostomus maximus is characterized by its polyovulation, polyembryony, and the highest embryonic death known in mammals. Its chorioallantoic placenta is hemomonochorial, an ancestral character among rodents. It resembles more the human placenta than the murine models. As in all caviomophs, the chorioallantoic placenta is divided in a main placenta and a subplacenta. The former is organized in labyrinth lobes surrounded by trophospongium, as in most caviomorphs. The giant cells (more numerous than in other caviomorphs) near the decidua could be related to invasiveness. During placentation of L. maximus, uterine natural killer cells are found. These cells have been related to invasiveness and remodeling of blood vessels in Mus musculus and Homo sapiens, although in other caviomorphs are not frequently found. In L. maximus, the placenta develops in all conceptuses (5-6 per uterine horn). Necrosis was observed in each implantation site at day 70 post-coitum, except in that closest to the vagina in each horn. This process of embryo death followed by resorption begins at day 26-30 post-coitum. Recently, we found variations in the percentage of blood vessel and uterine gland areas that could explain the regional differences in embryo survival. The characteristics of the placenta and implantation of L. maximus are important to stablish a unique model for studying placentation as well as early embryonic death, of interest for human and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Gustavo Barbeito
- Laboratory of Descriptive, Experimental and Comparative, Histology and Embryology, Argentina; National Council of Scientific and Technical Research, CCT-La Plata, Argentina.
| | - Francisco Acuña
- Laboratory of Descriptive, Experimental and Comparative, Histology and Embryology, Argentina; National Council of Scientific and Technical Research, CCT-La Plata, Argentina
| | | | - Enrique Leo Portiansky
- National Council of Scientific and Technical Research, CCT-La Plata, Argentina; Image Analysis Laboratory, School of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mirta Alicia Flamini
- Laboratory of Descriptive, Experimental and Comparative, Histology and Embryology, Argentina
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Saini BS, Darby JRT, Marini D, Portnoy S, Lock MC, Yin Soo J, Holman SL, Perumal SR, Wald RM, Windrim R, Macgowan CK, Kingdom JC, Morrison JL, Seed M. An MRI approach to assess placental function in healthy humans and sheep. J Physiol 2021; 599:2573-2602. [PMID: 33675040 DOI: 10.1113/jp281002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Human placental function is evaluated using non-invasive Doppler ultrasound of umbilical and uterine artery pulsatility indices as measures of resistance in placental vascular beds, while measurement of placental oxygen consumption ( V O 2 ) is only possible during Caesarean delivery. This study shows the feasibility of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in utero to measure blood flow and oxygen content in uterine and umbilical vessels to calculate oxygen delivery to and V O 2 by the gravid uterus, uteroplacenta and fetus. Normal late gestational human uteroplacental V O 2 by MRI was ∼4 ml min-1 kg-1 fetal weight, which was similar to our MRI measurements in sheep and to those previously measured using invasive techniques. Our MRI approach can quantify uteroplacental V O 2 , which involves the quantification of maternal- and fetal-placental blood flows, fetal oxygen delivery and V O 2 , and the oxygen gradient between uterine- and umbilical-venous blood, providing a comprehensive assessment of placental function with clinical potential. ABSTRACT It has not been feasible to perform routine clinical measurement of human placental oxygen consumption ( V O 2 ) and in vitro studies do not reflect true metabolism in utero. Here we propose an MRI method to non-invasively quantify in utero placental and fetal oxygen delivery ( D O 2 ) and V O 2 in healthy humans and sheep. Women (n = 20) and Merino sheep (n = 10; 23 sets of measurements) with singleton pregnancies underwent an MRI in late gestation (36 ± 2 weeks and 128 ± 9 days, respectively; mean ± SD). Blood flow (phase-contrast) and oxygen content (T1 and T2 relaxometry) were measured in the major uterine- and umbilical-placental vessels, allowing calculation of uteroplacental and fetal D O 2 and V O 2 . Maternal D O 2 (ml min-1 kg-1 fetus) to the gravid uterus was similar in humans and sheep (human = 54 ± 15, sheep = 53 ± 21, P = 0.854), while fetal D O 2 (human = 25 ± 4, sheep = 22 ± 5, P = 0.049) was slightly lower in sheep. Uteroplacental and fetal V O 2 (ml min-1 kg-1 fetus; uteroplacental: human = 4.1 ± 1.5, sheep = 3.5 ± 1.9, P = 0.281; fetus: human = 6.8 ± 1.3, sheep = 7.2 ± 1.7, P = 0.426) were similar between species. Late gestational uteroplacental:fetal V O 2 ratio did not change with age (human, P = 0.256; sheep, P = 0.121). Human umbilical blood flow (ml min-1 kg-1 fetus) decreased with advancing age (P = 0.008), while fetal V O 2 was preserved through an increase in oxygen extraction (P = 0.046). By contrast, sheep fetal V O 2 was preserved through stable umbilical flow (ml min-1 kg-1 ; P = 0.443) and oxygen extraction (P = 0.582). MRI derived measurements of uteroplacental and fetal V O 2 between humans and sheep were similar and in keeping with prior data obtained using invasive techniques. Taken together, these data confirm the reliability of our approach, which offers a novel clinical 'placental function test'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahmdeep S Saini
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, Labatt Family Heart Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Davide Marini
- Division of Cardiology, Labatt Family Heart Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Sharon Portnoy
- Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Jia Yin Soo
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Sunthara R Perumal
- Preclinical, Imaging and Research Laboratories, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, 5086, Australia
| | - Rachel M Wald
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada
| | - Rory Windrim
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X5, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1E2, Canada
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - John C Kingdom
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X5, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1E2, Canada
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Mike Seed
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, Labatt Family Heart Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.,Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1E2, Canada
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10
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Elbæk Madsen K, Mariager CØ, Duvald CS, Hansen ESS, Bertelsen LB, Pedersen M, Pedersen LH, Uldbjerg N, Laustsen C. Ex Vivo Human Placenta Perfusion, Metabolic and Functional Imaging for Obstetric Research-A Feasibility Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 5:333-338. [PMID: 31893231 PMCID: PMC6935991 DOI: 10.18383/j.tom.2019.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Placenta metabolism is closely linked to pregnancy outcome, and few modalities are currently available for studying the human placenta. Here, we aimed to investigate a novel ex vivo human placenta perfusion system for metabolic imaging using hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate. The metabolic effects of 3 different human placentas were investigated using functional and metabolic magnetic resonance imaging. The placenta glucose metabolism and hemodynamics were characterized with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate magnetic resonance imaging and by dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging. Hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate showed a decrease in the 13C-lactate/13C-pyruvate ratio from the highest to the lowest metabolic active placenta. The metabolic profile was complemented by a more homogenous distributed hemodynamic response, with a longer mean transit time and higher blood volume. This study shows different placenta metabolic and hemodynamic features associated with the placenta functional status using hyperpolarized magnetic resonance ex vivo. This study supports further studies using ex vivo metabolic imaging of the placenta alterations associated with pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine Elbæk Madsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, MR-Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Comparative Medicine Laboratory, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; and
| | | | - Christina S Duvald
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Comparative Medicine Laboratory, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; and
| | | | - Lotte Bonde Bertelsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, MR-Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Michael Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Comparative Medicine Laboratory, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; and
| | - Lars Henning Pedersen
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Niels Uldbjerg
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christoffer Laustsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, MR-Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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11
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Mitchell CM, Johnson LK, Crim MJ, Wiedmeyer CE, Pugazhenthi U, Tousey S, Tollin DJ, Habenicht LM, Fink MK, Fong DL, Leszczynski JK, Manuel CA. Diagnosis, Surveillance and Management of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus Infections in Chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera). Comp Med 2020; 70:370-375. [PMID: 32731906 PMCID: PMC7446643 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-20-000012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During a 6-mo period, two 5-6 mo old female chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) were examined at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus after the discovery of firm, nonmobile masses in the left ventral cervical and left axillary region. Other than these findings and mild weight loss, both chinchillas' physical exams were normal. Bloodwork revealed an inflammatory leukogram characterized by leukocytosis, toxic neutrophils, lymphopenia, and monocytosis with mild, nonregenerative anemia. At necropsy, both masses were identified as abscesses. Streptococcus equi, subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) was isolated in pure culture. Histology of the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys showed a marked increase in the numbers of both polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes. Both animals were deemed unsuitable for research and were euthanized under isoflurane anesthesia by an intracardiac injection of pentobarbital sodium solution. S. zooepidemicus is an opportunistic, commensal organism found in the upper respiratory tract of horses. This organism has been documented to cause disease in other species and is zoonotic. Infections in humans have been reported, resulting in glomerulonephritis, endocarditis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, and death. To aid in diagnosis and prospective surveillance of this bacteria, oral and nasal swabs were collected from the remaining cohort of chinchillas, and a qPCR screening assay was implemented. Within 12 mo, 4 of 41 additional females tested positive by culture or qPCR, resulting in a disease prevalence of 14% (6 of 43). However, only 2 of the additional 4 S. zooepidemicus positive animals developed clinical signs. The potential for the spread of infection, zoonosis, and adverse effects on research demonstrate that surveillance for S. zooepidemicus should be considered in a biomedical research environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara M Mitchell
- Animal Resources Center Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Linda K Johnson
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Marcus J Crim
- IDEXX BioAnalytics Diagnostic Services, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Charles E Wiedmeyer
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Umarani Pugazhenthi
- School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Susan Tousey
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Daniel J Tollin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Lauren M Habenicht
- Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Michael K Fink
- Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Derek L Fong
- Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jori K Leszczynski
- Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Christopher A Manuel
- Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado;,
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12
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Martonos CO, Damian A, Alexandru G, Viorel M, Rus V, Stan FG. Morphological and morphometrical aspects of intima and media of the common, external and internal iliac arteries in Chinchilla lanigera (Rodentia, Chinchillidae) bred in captivity. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2020.1815876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- C. O. Martonos
- Department of Anatomy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - A. Damian
- Department of Anatomy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - G. Alexandru
- Department of Anatomy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - M. Viorel
- Department of Histology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - V. Rus
- Department of Histology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - F. G. Stan
- Department of Anatomy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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13
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Noninvasive Ultrasound Monitoring of Embryonic and Fetal Development in Chinchilla lanigera to Predict Gestational Age: Preliminary Evaluation of This Species as a Novel Animal Model of Human Pregnancy. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2019; 2019:6319476. [PMID: 31263384 PMCID: PMC6556804 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6319476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasound is a noninvasive routine method that allows real-time monitoring of fetal development in utero to determine gestational age and to detect congenital anomalies and multiple pregnancies. To date, the developmental biology of Chinchilla lanigera has not yet been characterized. This species has been found to undergo placentation, long gestation, and fetal dimensions similar to those in humans. The aim of this study was to assess the use of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) and clinical ultrasound (US) to predict gestational age in chinchillas and evaluate the possibility of this species as a new animal model for the study of human pregnancy. In this study, 35 pregnant females and a total of 74 embryos and fetuses were monitored. Ultrasound examination was feasible in almost all chinchilla subjects. It was possible to monitor the chinchilla embryo with HFUS from embryonic day (E) 15 to 60 and with US from E15 to E115 due to fetus dimensions. The placenta could be visualized and measured with HFUS from E15, but not with US until E30. From E30, the heartbeat became detectable and it was possible to measure fetal biometrics. In the late stages of pregnancy, stomach, eyes, and lenses became visible. Our study demonstrated the importance of employing both techniques while monitoring embryonic and fetal development to obtain an overall and detailed view of all structures and to recognize any malformation at an early stage. Pregnancy in chinchillas can be confirmed as early as the 15th day postmating, and sonographic changes and gestational age are well correlated. The quantitative measurements of fetal and placental growth performed in this study could be useful in setting up a database for comparison with human fetal ultrasounds. We speculate that, in the future, the chinchilla could be used as an animal model for the study of US in human pregnancy.
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14
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Overgaard MD, Duvald CS, Vendelbo MH, Pedersen SB, Jakobsen S, Alstrup AKO, Mikkelsen E, Ovesen PG, Pedersen M. Biodistribution of [ 11C]-Metformin and mRNA Expression of Placentae Metformin Transporters in the Pregnant Chinchilla. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2019; 2019:9787340. [PMID: 31182937 PMCID: PMC6515019 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9787340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Background While metformin is the first-line pharmacological treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2, this drug is not considered safe to use in pregnant women because of its unknown consequences for the fetus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biodistribution of metformin in the pregnant chinchilla, a species exhibiting placental characteristics comparable with the pregnant woman. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the expression of metformin transporters in humans and chinchillas, respectively, in order to evaluate the pregnant chinchilla as a novel animal model for the use of metformin in pregnancy. Methods Three chinchillas in the last part of gestation were injected with [11C]-metformin and scanned by PET/CT for 70 minutes to visualize the distribution. To investigate the difference in expression of placenta transporters between humans and chinchillas, PCR was performed on samples from five chinchilla placentae and seven human placentae. Results Dynamic PET with [11C]-metformin showed that the metformin distribution in chinchillas was similar to that in nonpregnant humans, with signal from kidneys, liver, bladder, and submandibular glands. Conversely, no radioactive signal was observed from the fetuses, and no metformin was accumulated in the chinchilla fetus when measuring the SUV. PCR of placental mRNA showed that the human placentae expressed OCT3, whereas the chinchilla placentae expressed OCT1. Conclusion Since metformin did not pass the placenta barrier in the pregnant chinchilla, as it is known to do in humans, we do not suggest the chinchilla as a future animal model of metformin in pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mikkel Holm Vendelbo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Steen Jakobsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Emmeli Mikkelsen
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Per Glud Ovesen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Michael Pedersen
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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15
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Machado-Neves M, Assis WAD, Gomes MG, Oliveira CAD. Oviduct morphology and estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ expression in captive Chinchilla lanigera (Hystricomorpha: Chinchillidae). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 273:32-39. [PMID: 29574151 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Chinchilla lanigera is a hystricomorph rodent from South America whose reproductive biology presents particular characteristics that distinguishes it from other Rodentia species, such as low reproductive rate, seasonal breeding pattern, and long estrous cycle. Nevertheless, reproductive features in female chinchillas are still poorly investigated, with a scarce knowledge concerning the estrous cycle and the histology of reproductive organs. In this study, we investigate the morphology, histomorphometry, secretory activity, and immunolocalization of estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ in oviducts of nulliparous chinchillas, euthanized at fall season in Brazil. Follicular phase of estrous cycle of all studied animals was characterized by ovary and uterine morphology inspection, as well as vaginal cytology. Similar to other mammals, the oviduct wall of infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus was composed of mucosa, muscle, and serosa layers. Morphometric data of oviduct layers were used for identifying each oviduct segment. In the follicular phase, the oviduct was characterized by intense secretory activity, mainly in the ampulla, and expression of ERα and ERβ throughout the oviduct epithelium. Both ERα and ERβ were also detected in the connective tissue and smooth muscle cells. Our findings point out to the important role of estrogen in this female organ. Similar wide distribution of both ER proteins has been described for human Fallopian tube. Taken together, our data add to the understanding of the reproductive biology of female chinchillas, and may assist in the intensive breeding of this species and any eventual endeavor for conservation of chinchillas in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Machado-Neves
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Wiviane Alves de Assis
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Cx Postal 486, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mardelene Geísa Gomes
- Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cleida Aparecida de Oliveira
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Cx Postal 486, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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16
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Farkash G, Markovic S, Novakovic M, Frydman L. Enhanced hyperpolarized chemical shift imaging based on a priori segmented information. Magn Reson Med 2019; 81:3080-3093. [PMID: 30652358 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to develop an approach for improving the resolution and sensitivity of hyperpolarized 13 C MRSI based on a priori anatomical information derived from featured, water-based 1 H images. METHODS A reconstruction algorithm exploiting 1 H MRI for the redefinition of the 13 C MRSI anatomies was developed, based on a modification of the spectroscopy with linear algebraic modeling (SLAM) principle. To enhance 13 C spatial resolution and reduce spillover effects without compromising SNR, this model was extended by endowing it with a search allowing smooth variations in the 13 C MR intensity within the targeted regions of interest. RESULTS Experiments were performed in vitro on enzymatic solutions and in vivo on rodents, based on the administration of 13 C-enriched hyperpolarized pyruvate and urea. The spectral images reconstructed for these substrates and from metabolic products based on predefined 1 H anatomical compartments using the new algorithm, compared favorably with those arising from conventional Fourier-based analyses of the same data. The new approach also delivered reliable kinetic 13 C results, for the kind of processes and timescales usually targeted by hyperpolarized MRSI. CONCLUSION A simple, flexible strategy is introduced to boost the sensitivity and resolution provided by hyperpolarized 13 C MRSI, based on readily available 1 H MR information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Farkash
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Stefan Markovic
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Mihajlo Novakovic
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Lucio Frydman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
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17
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Placental physiology monitored by hyperpolarized dynamic 13C magnetic resonance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E2429-E2436. [PMID: 29444856 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715175115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental functions, including transport and metabolism, play essential roles in pregnancy. This study assesses such processes in vivo, from a hyperpolarized MRI perspective. Hyperpolarized urea, bicarbonate, and pyruvate were administered to near-term pregnant rats, and all metabolites displayed distinctive behaviors. Little evidence of placental barrier crossing was observed for bicarbonate, at least within the timescales allowed by 13C relaxation. By contrast, urea was observed to cross the placental barrier, with signatures visible from certain fetal organs including the liver. This was further evidenced by the slower decay times observed for urea in placentas vis-à-vis other maternal compartments and validated by mass spectrometric analyses. A clear placental localization, as well as concurrent generation of hyperpolarized lactate, could also be detected for [1-13C]pyruvate. These metabolites also exhibited longer lifetimes in the placentas than in maternal arteries, consistent with a metabolic activity occurring past the trophoblastic interface. When extended to a model involving the administration of a preeclampsia-causing chemical, hyperpolarized MR revealed changes in urea's transport, as well as decreases in placental glycolysis vs. the naïve animals. These distinct behaviors highlight the potential of hyperpolarized MR for the early, minimally invasive detection of aberrant placental metabolism.
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