Quantification of placental change in mouse models of preeclampsia using magnetic resonance microscopy

This study investigates changes in placental histopathology in mouse models of preeclampsia compared to the morphology using magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) (11.7 T) of intactex vivo tissue followed by 3D analysis of the image data. Here, C57BL/6JArc pregnant mice were subject to either normal pregnancy (n=3), or to one of two experimental models of preeclampsia; TNF- α infusion  (n=3) or reduced uterine perfusion pressure(RUPP) (n=3). Placental tissue was collected at gestational day (gd) 17, fixed in formalin and incubated with Magnavist™ contrast agent, and high resolution images (50 μm × 50 μm × 50 μm voxels) obtained by magnetic resonance imaging at 11.74 T. Visual segmentation into placental subregions and three dimensional (3D) reconstruction followed by volume analysis was performed with Amira™ 3D analysis software. The significance of differences between treatment groups in total and regional volumes was assessed. In a single placenta th e volumes measure by standard histology were compared. Three placentas from each animal were imaged, segmented into anatomical regions and 3D reconstructions generated. Total placental volume, labyrinth and decidual volume were not significantly different between groups. The junctional zone volume w as found to be significantly larger in the RUPP animals (18.5±1.5 mm3) compared to TNF-α infused animals (15.8±1.5) or control animals (15.0±0.7, P<0.01). However, the decidual/junctional zone volume was smaller in t...
Source: European Journal of Histochemistry - Category: Biomedical Science Source Type: research