Comparison of Cotyledon-Specific Perfusion and Pathology of Rhesus Macaque Placenta with DCE-MRI in a Thrombotic Injury Model

Motivation: Abnormalities in placental perfusion can lead to gestational complications. Goal(s): Investigate local effects of thrombotic placental injury model and understand relationship between perfusion and pathology in primate placentas on the cotyledon level. Approach: Tisseel or saline was injected into rhesus macaque placentas. Placental perfusion domains and cotyledon-specific perfusion were obtained with ferumoxytol DCE-MRI. The pathology of each cotyledon was analyzed, and physical cotyledons were matched with the perfusion domains for localized comparisons. Results: Higher pathology levels were observed in Tisseel-treated placentas without significant inter-group difference in whole-placental perfusion. Negative trends between perfusion and pathology were observed on the cotyledon level. Impact: Effects of the placental thrombosis model were confirmed and comparisons of placental histopathology and perfusion at the cotyledon level were proven feasible. Different perfusion relations with pathology on placental and cotyledon levels suggest the plasticity of the placenta under injury.