In‐vivo hemodynamic imaging of acute prenatal ethanol exposure in fetal brain by photoacoustic tomography

Abstract

Prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) can lead to structural and functional abnormalities in fetal brain. Although neural developmental deficits due to PEE have been recognized, the immediate effects of PEE on fetal brain vasculature and hemodynamics remain poorly understood. One of the major obstacles that preclude the rapid advancement of studies on fetal vascular dynamics is the limitation of the imaging techniques. Thus, a technique for noninvasive in-vivo imaging of fetal vasculature and hemodynamics is desirable. In this study, we explored the dynamic changes of the vessel dimeter, density and oxygen saturation in fetal brain after acute maternal ethanol exposure in the second-trimester equivalent murine model using a real-time photoacoustic tomography system we developed for imaging embryo of small animals. The results indicate a significant decrease in fetal brain vessel diameter, perfusion and oxygen saturation. This work demonstrated that PAT can provide highresolution noninvasive imaging ability to monitor fetal vascular dynamics. K E Y W O R D Sacute prenatal ethanol exposure, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, fetal brain vasculature, hemodynamics, real-time photoacoustic tomography

Looking deep inside tissue with photoacoustic molecular probes: a review

“… 36 – 44 These absorption maps provide the structural/functional information of the tissue inside the body. Depending on how PAI imaging systems are engineered, they are commonly divided into a few subcategories, namely, PA nanoscopy, 45 , 46 photoacoustic microscopy , 47 – 52 optoacoustic (PA) mesoscopy, 17 , 53 , 54 photoacoustic endoscopy, 55 – 60 preclinical photoacoustic computed tomography/photoacoustic tomography (PACT/PAT), 61 – 65 and clinical PACT/PAT. 66 – 73 …”

“…Over the last two decades, PAI has been used for various preclinical and clinical applications. 14 These include imaging of the whole body (small animal), 64 brain, 61 , 66 , 74 breast, 73 , vasculature, 69 , 75 – 79 skin, 80 , 81 eye, 75 diabetic feet, 76 zebrafish, 48 chicken embryo, 82 etc. In addition, real-time temperature monitoring 83 and vulnerable plaque detection have also been demonstrated.…”

Photoacoustic waves of a fluidic elliptic cylinder: Analytic solution and finite element method study

“…Furthermore, noninvasive analysis of arterial tortuousness of blood vessels in eyes and hands has been realised [16,17]. In term of function, photoacoustic imaging can be used to determine whether a vessel is an artery or a vein based on haemoglobin oxygen saturation [18] and to detect changes in the vessel diameter and density related to the cardiovascular and metabolic diseases [17,19]. However, photoacoustic imaging is yet to be realised for detailing cross-section changes of blood microvessels.…”

Dissemination of Prenatal Drinking Guidelines: A Preliminary Study Examining Personal Alcohol Use Among Midwives in a Southwestern US State

“…5 Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the most severe form of FASD, is recognized as the foremost, nonheritable cause of avoidable birth defects and mental retardation in the United States. 5,6 Among school-aged children, worldwide ORCID Olufunto A. Olusanya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6983-2882 prevalence for FASD and FAS is estimated to be 22.7 per 1000 7 live births and 14.6 per 10,000 live births, 8 respectively. In the United States, the prevalence rate for FASD is reported to be 40,000 of all births per year, 9 whereas FAS ranges between 6 and 9 per 1000 live births 10 Additionally, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation, and low birthweight.…”

“…Children who are born with FASD exhibit a range of alcohol‐induced neuropsychologic deficits in overall cognitive skills, executive functioning, academic learning, attention and memory, and behavioral impairments 5 . Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the most severe form of FASD, is recognized as the foremost, nonheritable cause of avoidable birth defects and mental retardation in the United States 5,6 . Among school‐aged children, worldwide prevalence for FASD and FAS is estimated to be 22.7 per 1000 7 live births and 14.6 per 10,000 live births, 8 respectively.…”