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Using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI to quantitatively characterize maternal vascular organization in the primate placenta
Author(s) -
Frias Antonio E.,
Schabel Matthias C.,
Roberts Victoria H. J.,
Tudorica Alina,
Grigsby Peta L.,
Oh Karen Y.,
Kroenke Christopher D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.25264
Subject(s) - placenta , contrast (vision) , primate , magnetic resonance imaging , dynamic contrast enhanced mri , nuclear magnetic resonance , neuroscience , medicine , biology , pregnancy , computer science , fetus , radiology , artificial intelligence , physics , genetics
Purpose The maternal microvasculature of the primate placenta is organized into 10–20 perfusion domains that are functionally optimized to facilitate nutrient exchange to support fetal growth. This study describes a dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging method for identifying vascular domains and quantifying maternal blood flow in them. Methods A rhesus macaque on the 133rd day of pregnancy (G133, term = 165 days) underwent Doppler ultrasound procedures, dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and Cesarean‐section delivery. Serial T 1 ‐weighted images acquired throughout intravenous injection of a contrast reagent bolus were analyzed to obtain contrast reagent arrival time maps of the placenta. Results Watershed segmentation of the arrival time map identified 16 perfusion domains. The number and location of these domains corresponded to anatomical cotyledonary units observed following delivery. Analysis of the contrast reagent wave front through each perfusion domain enabled determination of volumetric flow, which ranged from 9.03 to 44.9 mL/s (25.2 ± 10.3 mL/s). These estimates are supported by Doppler ultrasound results. Conclusions The dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging analysis described here provides quantitative estimates of the number of maternal perfusion domains in a primate placenta and estimates flow within each domain. Anticipated extensions of this technique are to the study placental function in non‐human primate models of obstetric complications. Magn Reson Med 73:1570–1578, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.