Three-dimensional visualisation of the feto-placental vasculature in humans and rodents

Adequate development of the feto-placental circulation is critical for placental exchange function and healthy fetal growth. Understanding the structure of this circulation and how it informs fetal outcomes is important both in the human placenta, and the rodent, a purported comparative experimental model. Vascular casting and micro-CT imaging approaches enable detailed quantification of the complex vascular relationships in the fetocirculation, and provide detailed data to parameterise in silica models. Here, to assist researchers to apply these technically challenging methods we provide detailed approaches to cast and image; 1) human placentas at the cotyledon-level, and 2) whole rodent placentas.

Automated summary

Adequate development of the feto-placental circulation is critical for placental exchange function and healthy fetal growth. Understanding the structure of this circulation is important in both human and rodent placenta. Vascular casting and micro-CT imaging approaches provide detailed data for modeling purposes.