Dataset Information

Real-time placental perfusion on contrast-enhanced ultrasound and parametric imaging analysis in rats at different gestation time and different portions of placenta.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To quantitatively analyze placental perfusion in a rat model at different gestation time and different portions of placenta by real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and parametric imaging analysis.

Materials and methods

Sixty pregnant rats at different gestation time (15 dys,17 days and 20 days) were injected intravenously with microbubbles (5×10(5) microbubbles /ml, 1.0 ml/kg), and cadence contrast pulse sequencing (transmission frequency of 7 MHz, mechanical index 0.18) was performed. Dynamic enhancement changes in placenta at different gestation time and different portions of placenta were measured and enhancement parameters analyzed with software. Correlation between enhancement parameters and average area densities of placenta vascular compartment was compared.

Results

The pattern and real-time sequence of enhancement in uterus and placenta were clearly depicted by CEUS. The time-to-peak enhancement was earlier in central portion than that in peripheral portion (12.30±6.33s vs 36.26±10.65 s, p?=?0.005), and peak intensity of enhancement is much higher in central portion than that in peripheral portion (30.20±2.85 dB vs 20.95±6.25 dB, p?=?0.000). The peak intensity of enhancement at day 15 (27.70±4.47 dB) was lower than that at day 17 (30.20±2.85 dB, p?=?0.042) and at day 20 (31.85±4.41 dB, p?=?0.015) of gestation. Significant correlation between average area densities of vascular compartment and the peak intensity of enhancement was identified in placenta at different gestation time (p<0.05). The average area densities of vascular compartment was higher in central portion than that in peripheral portion and has significant correlation with peak intensity of enhancement of the two potions (p<0.01).

Conclusion

CEUS is feasible to depict real-time sequence and quantitative parameters of perfusion in different portion of placenta at different gestational time in a rat model.

SUBMITTER: Zhou YJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3613345 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Real-time placental perfusion on contrast-enhanced ultrasound and parametric imaging analysis in rats at different gestation time and different portions of placenta.

Zhou Yi-Jie YJ Yuan Man-Li ML Li Rui R Zhu Li-Ping LP Chen Zhao-Hui ZH

PloS one 20130401 4

<h4>Objectives</h4>To quantitatively analyze placental perfusion in a rat model at different gestation time and different portions of placenta by real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and parametric imaging analysis.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>Sixty pregnant rats at different gestation time (15 dys,17 days and 20 days) were injected intravenously with microbubbles (5×10(5) microbubbles /ml, 1.0 ml/kg), and cadence contrast pulse sequencing (transmission frequency of 7 MHz, mechanical i ...[more]

PMID: 23560042

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Project description:BACKGROUND:The uteroplacental vascular supply is a critical determinant of placental function and fetal growth. Current methods for the in vivo assessment of placental blood flow are limited. OBJECTIVE:We demonstrate the feasibility of the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging to visualize and quantify perfusion kinetics in the intervillous space of the primate placenta. STUDY DESIGN:Pregnant Japanese macaques were studied at mid second trimester and in the early third trimester. Markers of injury were assessed in placenta samples from animals with or without contrast-enhanced ultrasound exposure (n = 6/group). Human subjects were recruited immediately before scheduled first-trimester pregnancy termination. All studies were performed with maternal intravenous infusion of lipid-shelled octofluoropropane microbubbles with image acquisition with a multipulse contrast-specific algorithm with destruction-replenishment analysis of signal intensity for assessment of perfusion. RESULTS:In macaques, the rate of perfusion in the intervillous space was increased with advancing gestation. No evidence of microvascular hemorrhage or acute inflammation was found in placental villous tissue and expression levels of caspase-3, nitrotyrosine and heat shock protein 70 as markers of apoptosis, nitrative, and oxidative stress, respectively, were unchanged by contrast-enhanced ultrasound exposure. In humans, placental perfusion was visualized at 11 weeks gestation, and preliminary data reveal regional differences in intervillous space perfusion within an individual placenta. By electron microscopy, we demonstrate no evidence of ultrastructure damage to the microvilli on the syncytiotrophoblast after first-trimester ultrasound studies. CONCLUSIONS:Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound did not result in placental structural damage and was able to identify intervillous space perfusion rate differences within a placenta. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging may offer a safe clinical tool for the identification of pregnancies that are at risk for vascular insufficiency; early recognition may facilitate intervention and improved pregnancy outcomes.

Project description:BackgroundThere is growing interest in limb contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) perfusion imaging for the evaluation of peripheral artery disease. Because of low resting microvascular blood flow in skeletal muscle, signal enhancement during limb CEU is prohibitively low for real-time imaging. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that this obstacle can be overcome by intermediate- rather than low-power CEU when performed with an acoustically resilient microbubble agent.MethodsViscoelastic properties of Definity and Sonazoid were assessed by measuring bulk modulus during incremental increases in ambient pressure to 200 mm Hg. Comparison of in vivo microbubble destruction and signal enhancement at a mechanical index (MI) of 0.1 to 0.4 was performed by sequential reduction in pulsing interval from 10 to 0.05 sec during limb CEU at 7 MHz in mice and 1.8 MHz in dogs. Destruction was also assessed by broadband signal generation during passive cavitation detection. Real-time CEU perfusion imaging with destruction-replenishment was then performed at 1.8 MHz in dogs using an MI of 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3.ResultsSonazoid had a higher bulk modulus than Definity (66 ± 12 vs 29 ± 2 kPa, P = .02) and exhibited less inertial cavitation (destruction) at MIs ≥ 0.2. On in vivo CEU, maximal signal intensity increased incrementally with MI for both agents and was equivalent between agents except at an MI of 0.1 (60% and 85% lower for Sonazoid at 7 and 1.8 MHz, respectively, P < .05). However, on progressive shortening of the pulsing interval, Definity was nearly completely destroyed at MIs ≥ 0.2 at 1.8 and 7 MHz, whereas Sonazoid was destroyed only at 1.8 MHz at MIs ≥ 0.3. As a result, real-time CEU perfusion imaging demonstrated approximately fourfold greater enhancement for Sonazoid at an MI of 0.3 to 0.4.ConclusionsRobust signal enhancement during real-time CEU perfusion imaging of the limb is possible when using intermediate-power imaging coupled with a durable microbubble contrast agent.

Project description:BackgroundPlacenta-derived proteins in the systemic maternal circulation are suggested as potential biomarkers for placental function. However, the identity and longitudinal patterns of such proteins are largely unknown due to the inaccessibility of the human placenta and limitations in assay technologies. We aimed to identify proteins derived from and taken up by the placenta in the maternal circulation. Furthermore, we aimed to describe the longitudinal patterns across gestation of placenta-derived proteins as well as identify placenta-derived proteins that can serve as reference curves for placental function.MethodsWe analyzed proteins in plasma samples collected in two cohorts using the Somalogic 5000-plex platform. Antecubital vein samples were collected at three time points (gestational weeks 14-16, 22-24, and 30-32) across gestation in 70 healthy pregnancies in the longitudinal STORK cohort. In the cross sectional 4-vessel cohort, blood samples were collected simultaneously from the maternal antecubital vein (AV), radial artery (RA), and uterine vein (UV) during cesarean section in 75 healthy pregnancies. Placenta-derived proteins and proteins taken up by the placenta were identified using venoarterial differences (UV-RA). Placenta-derived proteins were defined as placenta-specific by comparison to the venoarterial difference in the antecubital vein-radial artery (AV-RA). These proteins were described longitudinally based on the STORK cohort samples using a linear mixed effects model per protein. Using a machine learning algorithm, we identified placenta-derived proteins that could predict gestational age, meaning that they closely tracked gestation, and were potential read-outs of placental function.ResultsAmong the nearly 5000 measured proteins, we identified 256 placenta-derived proteins and 101 proteins taken up by the placenta (FDR < 0.05). Among the 256 placenta-derived proteins released to maternal circulation, 101 proteins were defined as placenta-specific. These proteins formed two clusters with distinct developmental patterns across gestation. We identified five placenta-derived proteins that closely tracked gestational age when measured in the systemic maternal circulation, termed a "placental proteomic clock."ConclusionsTogether, these data may serve as a first step towards a reference for the healthy placenta-derived proteome that can be measured in the systemic maternal circulation and potentially serve as biomarkers of placental function. The "placental proteomic clock" represents a novel concept that warrants further investigation. Deviations in the proteomic pattern across gestation of such proteomic clock proteins may serve as an indication of placental dysfunction.

Dataset Information

Real-time placental perfusion on contrast-enhanced ultrasound and parametric imaging analysis in rats at different gestation time and different portions of placenta.

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Real-time placental perfusion on contrast-enhanced ultrasound and parametric imaging analysis in rats at different gestation time and different portions of placenta.

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