Advances in imaging feto-placental vasculature: new tools to elucidate the early life origins of health and disease

Tongpob, Yutthapong; Wyrwoll, Caitlin

doi:10.1017/s2040174420000720

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 182 publications

(297 reference statements)

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“…Advances in placental imaging have enhanced our understanding of interval vascular and villous growth. 40 Animal models of placental insufficiency and preterm birth 41 and in vitro models of trophoblast stem cells 42 and recently bioengineered placental tissues 43 have further contributed to our understanding. However, a fundamental question of whether racial differences exist in placental development and function remains a relatively understudied area, but the concept is biologically plausible given growing recognition of the impact of socioeconomic and environmental stressors on placental development throughout pregnancy.…”

Section: Placental Dysfunction In Preterm Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Racial Disparities of Preterm Birth Through the Placenta

Matoba

Mestan

Collins

2021

Clinical Therapeutics

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The racial disparity associated with preterm birth is a public health concern in the United States. The placenta is the principal metabolic, respiratory, and endocrine organ of the fetus and a key route by which environmental exposures are transmitted from mother to offspring. Available at every delivery, it may serve as a marker of differences in prenatal exposures that manifest differently by race. Recently, we described differences in placental pathology between African-American and White preterm births: the prevalence of chronic inflammation was higher among African-American women's placentas compared with those of White women. Similarly, racial differences have been shown in placental malperfusion and placental weight. Social determinants such as poverty and stress from discrimination have been implicated in racial disparities in preterm birth. To date, however, the underlying biological mechanisms, whether through inflammatory, oxidative stress, or other pathways involving epigenetic programming, remain largely unknown. The placenta, complemented by maternal and umbilical cord blood biomarkers, may provide important information on the perinatal environment that explains the origins of racial disparities in preterm birth rates and subsequent health outcomes. This article reviews existing literature and current research gaps. Opportunities are discussed for future placental research that may reveal novel mechanisms leading to the development of new approaches in the prevention and management of preterm birth and its outcomes.

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Section: Placental Dysfunction In Preterm Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Racial Disparities of Preterm Birth Through the Placenta

Matoba

Mestan

Collins

2021

Clinical Therapeutics

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“…Gas diffusion was assumed to occur downstream of the truncated feto-placental vessels, however rat feto-placental capillaries could not be routinely resolved using our casting and imaging methods 56 . Hence we aimed to utilize computed outlet flow rates (from placental simulations, Figure 4C) as inputs to representative open-source capillary geometries 31 (Figure 4A).…”

Section: Feto-placental Blood Flow Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anin vitro, in uteroandin silicoframework of oxygen diffusion in intricate vascular networks of the placenta

Bappoo¹,

Kelsey²,

Tongpob³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The placenta is a temporary and complex organ critical for fetal development through its subtle but convoluted harmonization of endocrine, vascular, haemodynamic and exchange adaptations. Yet, due to experimental, technological and ethical constraints, this unique organ remains poorly understood. In silico tools are emerging as a powerful means to overcome these challenges and have the potential to actualize novel breakthroughs. Here, we present an interdisciplinary framework combining in vitro experiments used to develop an elegant and scalable in silico model of oxygen diffusion. We then use in utero imaging of placental perfusion and oxygenation in both control and growth-restricted rodent placentas for validation of our in silico model. Our framework revealed the structure-function relationship in the feto-placental vasculature; oxygen diffusion is impaired in growth-restricted placentas, due to the diminished arborization of growth-restricted feto-placental vasculature and the lack of decelerated flow for adequate oxygen diffusion and exchange. We highlight the mechanisms of impairment in a rat model of growth restriction, underpinned by placental vascular impairment. Our framework reports and validates the prediction of blood flow deceleration impairment in growth restricted placentas with the placenta’s oxygen transfer capability being significantly impaired, both globally and locally.

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“…2, 8 The common clinical imaging techniques, along with their respective modality variants, such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and single photon emission computed tomography, have better penetrative depth, but poor spatial resolution, and they can be ionizing or require exogenous contrast agents that can be harmful to a pregnancy. 2, 9 A modality that is non-ionizing, non-invasive, has decent resolution and penetration depth while being low cost and mobile is ultrasound (US) imaging and hence is ubiquitously used in evaluating placental health. Indeed, the Grannum grading system utilizes US images during routine pregnancy checkups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 Efforts have been made to use many different imaging modalities to investigate the placenta’s structure and function from the nano to macro scale. 2, 9, 14, 15…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of ectopic calcification on vascular oxygenation in placental dysfunction models: Simultaneousin vivoassessment with multi-parametric ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging

Edwards,

Correia-Branco,

Sankepalle

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Preeclampsia (PE) is a prevalent gestational disorder occurring in 2-10% of all pregnancies. It is associated with placental dysfunction which can result in maternal mortality and preterm birth. Despite scientific advances, the underlying mechanisms of PE and the progression of placental dysfunction remain poorly understood without preventative or curative treatment. Other than blood tests and postdelivery placental diagnostics, there are limited detection methods for monitoring placental health. A major roadblock is the lack of imaging modalities available to monitor placental hemodynamics, as the commonly used clinical imaging systems are either harmful due to ionizing sources, too expensive and inaccessible, or provide insufficient data. We propose the combination of quantitative ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging (QUSPAI) to characterize the material and structural changes of the placenta during pregnancy in normal and disease states. The Slc20a2 murine model of placental dysfunction has previously been characterized by increased ectopic placental vascular calcification, reduced fetal growth, and decreased postnatal bone mineral density. In this study we utilized the Slc20a2 model and imaged knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) placentae on embryonic day (E)18.5. The dual-wavelength images and radio frequency data were collectedin vivoandex vivoto provide quantitative ultrasound spectral (QUS) parameters and blood oxygen saturation. The photoacoustic images indicated that the WT tissue had statistically higher blood oxygen saturation (StO2) values than the KO tissues while QUS data revealed strain-specific calcification effects. Building upon the E18.5 gestation data collected here, future work will involve monitoring longitudinal changes in these parameters, including early calcification, to support translating this method for early diagnosis of placental vascular diseases.

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Advances in imaging feto-placental vasculature: new tools to elucidate the early life origins of health and disease

Cited by 7 publications

References 182 publications

Understanding Racial Disparities of Preterm Birth Through the Placenta

Understanding Racial Disparities of Preterm Birth Through the Placenta

Anin vitro, in uteroandin silicoframework of oxygen diffusion in intricate vascular networks of the placenta

Impact of ectopic calcification on vascular oxygenation in placental dysfunction models: Simultaneousin vivoassessment with multi-parametric ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging

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