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 high‐resolution noninvasive imaging ability to monitor fetal vascular dynamics.

中文翻译：

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光声层析成像技术在胎儿脑中急性产前乙醇暴露的体内血流动力学成像。

产前乙醇暴露（PEE）可能导致胎儿脑部结构和功能异常。尽管已认识到由于PEE引起的神经发育缺陷，但对PEE对胎儿脑血管和血流动力学的直接影响仍知之甚少。阻碍胎儿血管动力学研究迅速发展的主要障碍之一是成像技术的局限性。因此，需要一种用于胎儿血管系统和血液动力学的无创体内成像技术。在这项研究中，我们使用实时光声层析成像系统开发的实时光声层析成像系统，探讨了孕中期孕产乙醇暴露后急性孕产乙醇暴露后胎儿脑血管直径，密度和血氧饱和度的动态变化。 。结果表明胎儿脑血管直径，灌注和血氧饱和度显着降低。这项工作表明，PAT可以提供高分辨率的无创成像能力来监测胎儿的血管动力学。