A pictorial essay on fetal rabbit anatomy using micro-ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging

作者：DeKoninck Philip; Endo Masayuki; Sandaite Inga; Richter Jute; De Catte Luc; Van Calster Ben; Toelen Jaan; Himmelreich Uwe; Claus Filip; Deprest Jan^*

来源：Prenatal Diagnosis, 2014, 34(1): 84-89.

DOI：10.1002/pd.4259

IntroductionWith this pictorial essay, we aimed to provide gestational age specific reference ranges of relevant fetal structures using micro-ultrasound, as well as its correlation with postmortem MRI and whole body sections.
Material and MethodsTime-mated pregnant rabbits (n=24) were assessed once at various gestational ages in the second half of pregnancy (15, 17, 21 to 23, 25 to 28, and 30 to 31days; term=31days). We obtained biometric data, together with Doppler flow patterns in the ductus venosus, umbilical artery and umbilical vein. After euthanasia, micro-ultrasound images were compared with images obtained by 9.4 Tesla MRI and whole body paraffin sections at 15, 23, 26, and 28days.
ResultsWe constructed biometric normative curves, which showed a significant correlation with gestational age. The pulsatility index (PI) in the umbilical artery decreased with gestation (PI=5.746-0.2969(GA)+0.004931(GA)(2); R-2=0.30), whereas pulsatility index for veins (PIV) in the ductus venosus remained constant (median PIV=0.82 (0.60-1.12)). In this report, we provide an anatomical atlas of fetal thoracic development using both micro-ultrasound and MRI.
ConclusionWe describe anatomical fetal leporine development as can be visualized by micro-ultrasound and MR imaging. The reported reference ranges may be useful for researchers using the fetal rabbit model.

• 出版日期2014-1