PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to provide better understanding as to how the "double" vascular arcades, in contrast to other intestinal marginal vessels, develop along the right margin of the pancreatic head. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In human fetuses between 8-30 weeks, we described the topographical anatomy of the vessels, bile duct, duodenum as well as the ventral and dorsal primordia of the pancreatic head with an aid of pancreatic polypeptide immunohisto-chemistry. RESULTS: The contents of the hepatoduodenal ligament crossed the superior side of the pylorus. Moreover, the right hepatic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery ran along the superior aspect of the pancreatic head. An arterial arcade, corresponding to the posterior pancreaticoduodenal arteries, encircled the superior part of the pancreatic head, whereas another arcade, corresponding to the anterior pancreaticoduodenal arteries, surrounded the inferior part. The dorsal promordium of the pancreas surrounded and/or mixed the ventral primordium at 13-16 weeks. Thus, both arterial arcades were likely to attach to the dorsal primordium. CONCLUSION: The fetal anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal vascular arcades as well as that of the hepatoduodenal ligament were quite different from adults in topographical relations. Thus, in the stage later than 30 weeks, further rotation of the duodenum along a horizontal axis seemed to be required to move the pylorus posterosuperiorly and to reflect the superior surface of the pancreatic head posteriorly. However, to change the topographical anatomy of the superior and inferior arterial arcades into the final position, re-arrangement of the pancreatic parenchyma might be necessary in the head.
Arteries/*embryology ; Duodenum/anatomy & histology/*blood supply/*embryology ; Female ; Fetus/*blood supply ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Pancreas/anatomy & histology/*blood supply/*embryology ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUNDThere have been no detailed reports of the three-dimensional structure and the relationship between the external and internal vascularizations observed successively for a long duration in the rat fetus, although many authors have studied the vascular morphology of the developing brain. This study examined the three-dimensional structure of both the external and internal vascularizations of the prenatal rat telencephalon from embryonic days 12 (E12) to 20 (E20).

METHODA microvascular casting method for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used in this study, along with vascular staining using gold-gelatin solution-autometallography (GGS-AMG) after intravascular injection of colloidal gold, as well as hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining for paraffin embedded specimens.

RESULTSIn GGS-AMG stains, E16 fetuses had a few short perforating cortical blood vessels (SPCVs); E17 fetuses had long perforating cortico-medullary vessels (LPCVs). Older fetuses had specific patterns of vascular networks in the cortex and the deeper subcortical part of the telencephalon. In the cortex, fine longitudinal blood vessels were connected by transverse channels. The deep telencephalon had fine blood vessels running in all directions. Using SEM, the external vascularization was already visible in E12 fetuses as arborizations of arterial branches, forming a mesh of fine vascular networks covering the telencephalon. A coralliform fine venous plexus was observed in the external vascularization of E16 fetuses. There were ring-like anastomoses and bud-like protrusions in the network of small blood vessels, most likely the angiogenesis of fetal vessels. From E12 to E16, an immature and incomplete internal vascularization began to appear. There were short blood vessels with ballooned terminals branching from the external vascularization. They penetrated the brain tissue to form networks in the superficial layer, comparable to SPCVs. In E17 to E20 fetuses, tortuous venous branches, straight arterial blood vessels, and a fine network of small blood vessels formed the external vascularization. There were fewer arterial than venous branches connecting to the fine networks of small blood vessels. LPCVs were noted at E17, at the time the white matter emerged. They branched from the external vascularization, and perpendicularly penetrated the brain surface, traversing the cortical plate, and entering into the deep brain. At E17, arterial and venous blood vessels could be clearly distinguished in the external vascularization. At E20, the cortex and white matter contained specific arrangements of networks of fine blood vessels, as seen by GGS-AMG staining.

CONCLUSIONThese findings show that the development of both the external and internal vascularization follows the development of the telencephalon. In particular, the emergence of the cortical plate and white matter on E16 and E17 influence the development of both the internal and the external vascularization. The laminal arrangement of blood vessels was not observed corresponding to the respective laminal neuronal layers.

Animals ; Blood Vessels ; embryology ; ultrastructure ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Fetus ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Telencephalon ; blood supply

To investigate hemodynamic parameters in 2 anatomical segments (S1 and S2) of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) in normal pregnancy during the second and third trimester of gestation.
 Methods: The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), time-average maximum velocity (TAMAXV), peak systolic velocity/end diastolic velocity (S/D), resistance index (RI), and pulsation index (PI) in S1 and S2 of fetal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) in 288 normal pregnant women were detected by power Doppler and pulsed Doppler. Multiple regression models were fitted to estimate the relation between Doppler variables and gestational age. The differences of hemodynamic parameters between ACAS1 and ACAS2 were compared.
 Results: The PSV, EDV, and TAMAXV of ACAS1 and ACAS2 were positively correlated with the weeks of pregnancy (P<0.001), all fitted with the cubic curve. The S/D, PI, and RI values of ACAS1 and ACAS2 were not correlated with gestational ages (P>0.05). The PSV, TAMAXV, S/D, PI, and RI of ACAS1 were significantly higher than those of ACAS2, while EDV in ACAS1 was lower than that in ACAS2 (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The velocity parameters (PSV, EDV, TAMAXV) of the 2 anatomical segments (ACAS1 and ACAS2) are increased with the increase of gestational age in normal pregnant fetus during the second and third trimester of gestation, and the resistance parameters (S/D, PI, RI) are not significantly correlated with gestational age. Distribution of blood flow is different in the blood supply territory between ACAS1 and ACAS2.
Anterior Cerebral Artery ; physiology ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Female ; Fetus ; blood supply ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Brain ; blood supply ; Fetus ; blood supply ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence reported of maternal depression from the first to the third trimester was 7.4%, 12.8%, 12.0% respectively, which implies that around one-tenth of pregnant women suffer from psychological disorder during the whole pregnancy. It is assumed that during pregnancy the maternal-fetal circulation unit is also affected by maternal psychological status. The aim of this study is to explore the association between maternal psychological status and fetal dynamic blood flow circulation during pregnancy.

METHODSWe recruited 102 singleton low risk pregnant women between 30 to 33 gestational weeks. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) was used to assess maternal psychological status. Ultrasound Doppler was used to measure blood flow changes in maternal-fetal circulation. Pulsatility index (PI) value was measured in umbilical artery (UA), fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and maternal uterine arteries (UTA). Peak systolic velocity (PSV) was measured in MCA and velocity was measured in umbilical vein (UV). Statistical analysis was performed with standard nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests. Two-tailed P values <0.05 were considered statistical significance.

RESULTSOf the 102 pregnant women, 12 patients show high levels of poor mental health. Women with poor mental health have higher umbilical artery PI values than good mental health patients (P = 0.020). A higher MCA PI value is found in poor mental health patients but this does not reach statistical significance (P = 0.053). Women with hostility show lower placental scores (P = 0.030). Women with somatization demonstrate higher values in UA PI, MCA PI and MCA PSV (P = 0.049, 0.030 and 0.035 respectively). A higher MCA PSV value is also found in phobic anxiety patients (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONSPoor mental health during pregnancy is found to have an adverse effect on maternal-fetal circulation. Umbilical artery and fetal cerebral circulation are more sensitive and affected by maternal psychological disorder.

Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; physiology ; Female ; Fetus ; blood supply ; physiology ; Gestational Age ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology

The fetus is an unstable subject for an isolated physiological and biochemical study. To study the fetus in a controlled and stable environment, a trial was done using 12 goat fetuses. Extrauterine incubation system was devised using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system. The system consisted of a venous reservoir with a servo-controlled roller pump and a membrane oxygenator. The extra-corporeal circuit and membrane oxygenator were primed with the maternal whole blood of 200 mL. Fetal umbilical cords was exposed by Cesarean section. Fetal umbilical arterial blood was drained via the drainage cannula. The drained blood was perfused to the oxygenator by the roller pump. The highly oxygenated and decarboxylated blood was returned to an umbilical vein via the perfusion catheter. The blood flow rate was controlled manually using a roller pump. Fetal heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram were continuously recorded. Gas analysis of drained and perfused bood was performed hourly. With this system, the fetuses were able to survive under fairly stable physiological condition for periods of up to 34 hr. The extrauterine incubation system used in this study could therefore be a encouraging future experimental model in researching the artificial placenta for premature fetuses.
Animals ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/adverse effects/*methods ; Female ; Fetal Blood/metabolism ; Fetus/*blood supply/*physiology ; Goats ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Models, Animal ; Pregnancy ; Time Factors ; Umbilical Arteries ; Umbilical Veins

Microvascular endothelial cells were purely isolated from human fetal skin using magnetic particles. The principle of this technique is based on the selective binding of the lectin Ulex europaeus I (UEA I) to the endothelial cell surface via fucose residues. Initially UEA I was covalently bound to tosyl-activated magnetic polydisperse polymer particles (Dynabeads) and then the UEA I-coated beads were collected using a magnetic particle concentrator (MPC). Endothelial cells were isolated by extracting microvascular segments from trypsin-treated fetal skin tissue and were purified by sieving with nylon mesh and by 35% Percoll gradient centrifugation. For further purification, the obtained cells were incubated with UEA I-coated Dynabeads. The endothelial cells bound to the Dynabeads were collected using MPC. This is a simple and reproducible technique for isolating a pure population of microvascular endothelium from the fetal skin.
Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular/*cytology ; Factor VIII/analysis ; Female ; Fetus ; Human ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis ; Pregnancy ; Skin/blood supply ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis