Journal article

Publication year: 2008

Pages: 937-941

Journal: Placenta

Volume number: 29

Issue number: 11

ISSN: 0143-4004

eISSN: 1532-3102

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2008.08.017

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

Objective: Placental vascular development matches fetal growth and development. Quantification of the feto-placental vasculature in placentas from pregnancies is complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) revealed confounding results. Therefore, the feto-placental vascular Volume in IUGR placentas was assessed by 3D micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).

Methods and results: Placental probes from IUGR (n = 24) and healthy control placentas (n = 40) were perfused in situ with Microfil OF BaSO4 and randomly chosen samples were scanned by micro-CT. Using 3D images, we quantitated the feto-placental vascular Volume fraction (VVF). A subanalysis was per-formed at three different levels, reaching from the chorionic plate artery (level A), to intermediate arteries (level B) and capillary system (level C). Results were complemented by histology. The significance of differences in vascular volume measurements was tested with analysis of variance [ANOVA].

Results: Microfil perfused placentas showed a total vascular volume fraction of 20.5 +/- 0.9% in healthy controls. In contrast, the VVF decreased to 7.9 +/- 0.9% (p < 0.001) in IUGR placentas. Significant differences were found between Microfil and BaSO4 perfused placentas in the vascular Volume fraction using micro-CT and histology. Micro-CT demonstrated localized concentric luminal encroachments in the intermediate arteries in placentas complicated by IUGR.

Conclusion: Micro-CT imaging is feasible for quantitative analysis of the feto-placental vascular tree in healthy controls and pregnancies complicated by IUGR. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Langheinrich, A., Vorman, S., Seidenstuecker, J., Kampschulte, M., Bohle, R., Wienhard, J., et al. (2008) Quantitative 3D Micro-CT Imaging of the Human Feto-placental Vasculature in Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Placenta, 29(11), pp. 937-941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2008.08.017

APA Citation style: Langheinrich, A., Vorman, S., Seidenstuecker, J., Kampschulte, M., Bohle, R., Wienhard, J., & Zygmunt, M. (2008). Quantitative 3D Micro-CT Imaging of the Human Feto-placental Vasculature in Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Placenta. 29(11), 937-941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2008.08.017