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Comparative analysis of high field MRI and histology for ex vivo whole organ imaging: assessment of placental functional morphology in a murine model

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Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of our study was to evaluate MRI as a tool to examine placental morphology in a murine model in comparison to classical histology techniques.

Methods

Assessment of placental samples (n = 24) from C57Bl/6 J mice was performed using MR imaging and histomorphological analyses. To optimize image contrast for MRI, a protocol for gadolinium-mediated enhancement of placental tissue was established. To test method sensitivity, placental zone assessment with MRI and histology was applied to a model of prenatal stress exposure known to affect placental morphology (n = 10). Mean data acquisition time for both methods was estimated. Difference between groups was calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

Tissue fixation with formaldehyde and staining with gadolinium resulted in the best image quality. Placental functional zones were identified and measured with both MRI and histology. MRI and histology were able to detect changes in the L/Jz ratio upon a prenatal stress challenge (p = 0.001; p = 0.003). Data acquisition time was shorter using MRI assessment.

Conclusions

Ex vivo MRI analyses of murine placental functional morphology with MRI are feasible and results are comparable to time-consuming histology. Both MRI and histology allow the detection of experimentally induced morphological tissue alterations.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided within the Network of Feto-Maternal Cross Talk, funded by the Excellence Initiative of the Hamburg Foundation for Research, and the German Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Centre for Radiology and Endoscopy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Chressen Catharina Remus, Thomas Ernst & Gerhard Adam

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Emilia Solano, Rene Thieme, Kurt Hecher & Petra Arck

Authors
  1. Chressen Catharina Remus
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  2. Emilia Solano
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  3. Thomas Ernst
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  4. Rene Thieme
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  5. Kurt Hecher
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  6. Gerhard Adam
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  7. Petra Arck
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chressen Catharina Remus.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ethical approval for all procedures involving animals was obtained from the local ethical committee.

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Remus, C.C., Solano, E., Ernst, T. et al. Comparative analysis of high field MRI and histology for ex vivo whole organ imaging: assessment of placental functional morphology in a murine model. Magn Reson Mater Phy 32, 197–204 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-018-0708-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-018-0708-6

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