In amnio MRI of mouse embryos

TY - JOUR

T1 - In amnio MRI of mouse embryos

AU - Roberts, Thomas A

AU - Norris, Francesca C

AU - Carnaghan, Helen

AU - Savery, Dawn

AU - Wells, Jack A

AU - Siow, Bernard

AU - Scambler, Peter J

AU - Pierro, Agostino

AU - De Coppi, Paolo

AU - Eaton, Simon

AU - Lythgoe, Mark F

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Mouse embryo imaging is conventionally carried out on ex vivo embryos excised from the amniotic sac, omitting vital structures and abnormalities external to the body. Here, we present an in amnio MR imaging methodology in which the mouse embryo is retained in the amniotic sac and demonstrate how important embryonic structures can be visualised in 3D with high spatial resolution (100 µm/px). To illustrate the utility of in amnio imaging, we subsequently apply the technique to examine abnormal mouse embryos with abdominal wall defects. Mouse embryos at E17.5 were imaged and compared, including three normal phenotype embryos, an abnormal embryo with a clear exomphalos defect, and one with a suspected gastroschisis phenotype. Embryos were excised from the mother ensuring the amnion remained intact and stereo microscopy was performed. Embryos were next embedded in agarose for 3D, high resolution MRI on a 9.4T scanner. Identification of the abnormal embryo phenotypes was not possible using stereo microscopy or conventional ex vivo MRI. Using in amnio MRI, we determined that the abnormal embryos had an exomphalos phenotype with varying severities. In amnio MRI is ideally suited to investigate the complex relationship between embryo and amnion, together with screening for other abnormalities located outside of the mouse embryo, providing a valuable complement to histology and existing imaging methods available to the phenotyping community.

AB - Mouse embryo imaging is conventionally carried out on ex vivo embryos excised from the amniotic sac, omitting vital structures and abnormalities external to the body. Here, we present an in amnio MR imaging methodology in which the mouse embryo is retained in the amniotic sac and demonstrate how important embryonic structures can be visualised in 3D with high spatial resolution (100 µm/px). To illustrate the utility of in amnio imaging, we subsequently apply the technique to examine abnormal mouse embryos with abdominal wall defects. Mouse embryos at E17.5 were imaged and compared, including three normal phenotype embryos, an abnormal embryo with a clear exomphalos defect, and one with a suspected gastroschisis phenotype. Embryos were excised from the mother ensuring the amnion remained intact and stereo microscopy was performed. Embryos were next embedded in agarose for 3D, high resolution MRI on a 9.4T scanner. Identification of the abnormal embryo phenotypes was not possible using stereo microscopy or conventional ex vivo MRI. Using in amnio MRI, we determined that the abnormal embryos had an exomphalos phenotype with varying severities. In amnio MRI is ideally suited to investigate the complex relationship between embryo and amnion, together with screening for other abnormalities located outside of the mouse embryo, providing a valuable complement to histology and existing imaging methods available to the phenotyping community.

KW - Amnion/diagnostic imaging

KW - Amniotic Fluid/diagnostic imaging

KW - Animals

KW - Embryo, Mammalian/diagnostic imaging

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Mice

KW - Placenta/diagnostic imaging

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Radiography

KW - Umbilical Cord/diagnostic imaging

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0109143

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0109143

M3 - Article

C2 - 25330230

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 9

SP - e109143

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

IS - 10

ER -