Structure-function relationships in the feto-placental circulation from in silico interpretation of micro-CT vascular structures.

Autor: Byrne M; Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand., Aughwane R; Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, WC1E 6HX, United Kingdom., James JL; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand., Hutchinson JC; NIHR GOS Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom., Arthurs OJ; NIHR GOS Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College, London, United Kingdom; Paediatric Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom., Sebire NJ; NIHR GOS Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom., Ourselin S; School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Kings College London, United Kingdom., David AL; Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, WC1E 6HX, United Kingdom; NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7DN, United Kingdom., Melbourne A; School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Kings College London, United Kingdom., Clark AR; Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: alys.clark@auckland.ac.nz.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of theoretical biology [J Theor Biol] 2021 May 21; Vol. 517, pp. 110630. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Feb 17.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110630
Abstrakt: A well-functioning placenta is critical for healthy fetal development, as the placenta brings fetal blood in close contact with nutrient rich maternal blood, enabling exchange of nutrients and waste between mother and fetus. The feto-placental circulation forms a complex branching structure, providing blood to fetal capillaries, which must receive sufficient blood flow to ensure effective exchange, but at a low enough pressure to prevent damage to placental circulatory structures. The branching structure of the feto-placental circulation is known to be altered in complications such as fetal growth restriction, and the presence of regions of vascular dysfunction (such as hypovascularity or thrombosis) are proposed to elevate risk of placental pathology. Here we present a methodology to combine micro-computed tomography and computational model-based analysis of the branching structure of the feto-placental circulation in ex vivo placentae from normal term pregnancies. We analyse how vascular structure relates to function in this key organ of pregnancy; demonstrating that there is a 'resilience' to placental vascular structure-function relationships. We find that placentae with variable chorionic vascular structures, both with and without a Hyrtl's anastomosis between the umbilical arteries, and those with multiple regions of poorly vascularised tissue are able to function with a normal vascular resistance. Our models also predict that by progressively introducing local heterogeneity in placental vascular structure, large increases in feto-placental vascular resistances are induced. This suggests that localised heterogeneities in placental structure could potentially provide an indicator of increased risk of placental dysfunction.
Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.
(Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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