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Phenotyping a mouse model of pre‐eclampsia using sonography
Author(s) -
Woods Ashley K,
Franzek Elizabeth M,
Sharma Ram V,
Davisson Robin L
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1196.4
Subject(s) - gestation , embryo , fetus , pregnancy , andrology , eclampsia , medicine , obstetrics , biology , genetics
Our lab discovered a mouse strain (BPH/5) that spontaneously develops symptoms of pre‐eclampsia during pregnancy. We hypothesized that significant fetal phenotypes in BPH/5 pups would be apparent in early gestation. We have previously seen placental abnormalities in tissue sections as early as d9.5. To visualize the embryonic health status throughout gestation, ultra‐high frequency ultrasound was used to characterize BPH/5 pregnancies. Implantation sites were analyzed by exteriorizing the uterus, and gathering sonographic data for each embryo at gestation day 10.5. Three distinct fetoplacental phenotypes emerged in BPH/5 embryos: Class 1 embryos show normal development, Class 2 show challenged development, and Class 3 fail to develop. Class 1 BPH/5 and C57 embryos showed no differences in heart rate (measured as a fraction of maternal HR), however, Class 2 BPH/5 embryos showed a decrease in HR compared to C57 controls (Class 2 BPH/5: 8.8±0.7 %mat HR, n=6, C57: 15.2±0.1 %mat HR, n=21, p<0.05). We observed a decrease in crown rump size between both Class 1 and Class 2 BPH/5 embryos compared with C57 controls (Class 1 BPH/5 3.57±0.12mm;n=20, Class 2 BPH/5 2.38±0.12mm; n=4, and C57 4.12±0.07mm; n=13, p<0.001). These data show that ultrasound imaging is a useful means of phenotyping BPH/5 implantation sites throughout gestation, and gaining insight into molecular mechanisms of pre‐eclampsia.