Using Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI to Quantitatively Characterize Maternal Vascular Organization in the Primate Placenta

Christopher D. Kroenke¹, Antonio E. Frias¹, Matthias C. Schabel¹, Peta L. Grigsby¹, Victoria H.J. Roberts¹, Kevin L. Grove¹, Karen Y. Oh¹, Alina Tudorica¹

A method is described for quantifying maternal perfusion in the primate placenta using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. In contrast to rodents, the primate placenta is organized into several 2-5 mL vascular structures termed cotyledons. We have characterized perfusion within the placental intervillous spaces of the macaque placenta at several stages of pregnancy by analyzing contrast reagent arrival time as a function of distance from spiral artery inputs. As a result, intervillous blood flow is quantified for each cotyledon. Substantial heterogeneity in blood flow is observed between cotyledons and between individual subjects, indicating the potential of this analysis for assessing placental function.