Abstract
Despite the importance of placental function in embryonic development, it remains poorly understood and challenging to characterize, primarily due to the lack of non-invasive imaging tools capable of monitoring placental and foetal oxygenation and perfusion parameters during pregnancy. We developed an optoacoustic tomography approach for real-time imaging through entire ~4 cm cross-sections of pregnant mice. Functional changes in both maternal and embryo regions were studied at different gestation days when subjected to an oxygen breathing challenge and perfusion with indocyanine green. Structural phenotyping of the cross-sectional scans highlighted different internal organs, whereas multi-wavelength acquisitions enabled non-invasive label-free spectroscopic assessment of blood-oxygenation parameters in foeto-placental regions, rendering a strong correlation with the amount of oxygen administered. Likewise, the placental function in protecting the embryo from extrinsically administered agents was substantiated. The proposed methodology may potentially further serve as a probing mechanism to appraise embryo development during pregnancy in the clinical setting.
Highlights
Medical history has witnessed multiple complications during pregnancy and childbirth due to impaired oxygen transfer across the foeto-maternal vascular interface, resulting in pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders (PIHD), including preeclampsia, with possible fatal maternal and/or foetal effects
We developed an optoacoustic tomography approach for real-time imaging through entire ~4 cm cross-sections of pregnant mice
According to a survey by the World Health Organization, ~830 women die every day across the world due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, among which ~14% are attributable to PIHD1
Summary
Medical history has witnessed multiple complications during pregnancy and childbirth due to impaired oxygen transfer across the foeto-maternal vascular interface, resulting in pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders (PIHD), including preeclampsia, with possible fatal maternal and/or foetal effects. Anomalous placental development and lack of oxygen perfusion through the placental-vascular interface can lead to hypoxic and ischaemic attacks. Placental insufficiency and maternal chronic hypoxia hinder oxygen delivery to the foetus, leading to several consequences, including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and foetal death[2]. The emergence of new insights in placental insufficiency and oxygenation along with changes in maternal and foetal functional parameters are of high importance and can help in the prevention of pathological cases via periodic monitoring of anatomical and functional attributes during development
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
