Computational modeling of the structure-function relationship in human placental terminal villi

Mayo, Romina Plitman; Olsthoorn, Jason; Charnock-Jones, D. Stephen; Burton, Graham J.; Oyen, Michelle L.

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.10.001

Cited by 26 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…4b), and confirmed the previous findings on diffusional screening [61]. These models were subsequently upgraded by including the fetal blood flowing through the capillary network [59]. The drastic changes in diameter, commonly seen in the terminal villi vasculature, where shown to decelerate the flow and suggested to be an effective way of maximising the time for oxygenation without affecting the oxygen supply to the foetus.…”

Section: Placental Transport Functionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…(c)One-dimensional model of a placental transport unit [58]. (d)Three-dimensional CLSM based model of a terminal villi with flow streamlines [mm/s] [59]. All figures were reproduced with permission.…”

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3d) [59]. These models focused on how the unique structure of the terminal villi vasculature impact the motion of blood and oxygen transport.…”

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sinusoids - a key feature of the terminal villi - are shown to decelerate the blood flow by up to 80% while thinning the barrier and therefore, allow faster and better oxygenation of the fetal blood. Additionally, vortical flow was shown to be physiologically impossible at the terminal branches [59]. A similar approach was taken by Pearce etal.…”

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The implication of Hyrtl anastomosis [54], the function of the different branching patterns commonly found in the chorionic plate [57] or the role of the unique structure of the terminal villi [59], are just examples of the capabilities of computational modelling. However, the relationship between the feto-placental bloodstream and the capacity of the placenta to efficiently supply the foetus with nutrients is still unclear.…”

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in Human Placental Biomechanics

Mayo

2018

Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal

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Pregnancy complications are a major clinical concern due to the related maternal and fetal morbidity. Many are caused through defective placentation, but research into placental function is difficult, principally because of the ethical limitations associated with the in-vivo organ and the difficulty of extrapolating animal models. Perfused by two separate circulations, the maternal and fetal bloodstreams, the placenta has a unique structure and performs multiple complex functions. Three-dimensional imaging and computational modelling are becoming popular tools to investigate the morphology and physiology of this organ. These techniques bear the potential for better understanding the aetiology and development of placental pathologies, however, their full potential is yet to be exploited. This review aims to summarize the recent insights into placental structure and function by employing these novel techniques.

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Section: Placental Transport Functionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3d) [59]. These models focused on how the unique structure of the terminal villi vasculature impact the motion of blood and oxygen transport.…”

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Maternal and Fetal Blood Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in Human Placental Biomechanics

Mayo

2018

Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal

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Separating fetal and maternal placenta circulations using multiparametric MRI

Melbourne

Aughwane

Sokolska

et al. 2018

Magnetic Resonance in Med

127

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PurposeThe placenta is a vital organ for the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between fetus and mother. The placenta may suffer from several pathologies, which affect this fetal‐maternal exchange, thus the flow properties of the placenta are of interest in determining the course of pregnancy. In this work, we propose a new multiparametric model for placental tissue signal in MRI.MethodsWe describe a method that separates fetal and maternal flow characteristics of the placenta using a 3‐compartment model comprising fast and slowly circulating fluid pools, and a tissue pool is fitted to overlapping multiecho T2 relaxometry and diffusion MRI with low b‐values. We implemented the combined model and acquisition on a standard 1.5 Tesla clinical system with acquisition taking less than 20 minutes.ResultsWe apply this combined acquisition in 6 control singleton placentas. Mean myometrial T2 relaxation time was 123.63 (±6.71) ms. Mean T2 relaxation time of maternal blood was 202.17 (±92.98) ms. In the placenta, mean T2 relaxation time of the fetal blood component was 144.89 (±54.42) ms. Mean ratio of maternal to fetal blood volume was 1.16 (±0.6), and mean fetal blood saturation was 72.93 (±20.11)% across all 6 cases.ConclusionThe novel acquisition in this work allows the measurement of histologically relevant physical parameters, such as the relative proportions of vascular spaces. In the placenta, this may help us to better understand the physiological properties of the tissue in disease.

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Placentation in the Human and Higher Primates

Burton

Jauniaux

2021

Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology

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Placentation in the human is precocious and highly invasive compared to other mammals. Implantation is interstitial, with the conceptus becoming completely embedded within the endometrium towards the end of the second week postfertilization. Villi initially form over the entire surface of the chorionic sac, stimulated by histotrophic secretions from the endometrial glands. The secondary yolk sac never makes contact with the chorion, and a choriovitelline placenta is never established.However, recent morphological and transcriptomic analyses suggest the yolk sac plays an important role in uptake of nutrients from the coelomic fluid. Measurements performed in vivo demonstrate that early development takes place in a physiological, low-oxygen environment that protects against teratogenic free radicals and maintains stem cells in a multipotent state. The maternal arterial circulation to the placenta is only fully established around 10-12 weeks of gestation. By then, villi have regressed over the superficial, abembryonic pole, leaving the definitive discoid placenta, which is of the villous, hemochorial type. Remodelling of the maternal spiral arteries is essential to ensure a high-volume but low-velocity inflow into the mature placenta. Extravillous trophoblast cells migrate from anchoring villi and surround the arteries. Their interactions with maternal immune cells release cytokines and proteases that are key to remodelling, and a successful pregnancy.

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Computational modeling of the structure-function relationship in human placental terminal villi

Cited by 26 publications

References 39 publications

Advances in Human Placental Biomechanics

Advances in Human Placental Biomechanics

Separating fetal and maternal placenta circulations using multiparametric MRI

Placentation in the Human and Higher Primates

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