Figure 1.
Stereo microscope images of ex vivo mouse embryos in their amniotic sacs.
(a) normal, (b) known exomphalos, (c) suspected gastroschisis phenotypes. The two abnormal embryos have similar abdominal wall defects but the herninated viscera of the embryo in (c) are much more dispersed than the tightly compacted herniation of the known exomphalos embryo in (b).
Figure 2.
Sagittal sections of in amnio mouse embryo MR images at E17.5.
(a) normal phenotype, (b) known exomphalos embryo with craniorachischisis and (c) suspected gastroschisis embryo with craniorachischisis. In the exomphalos embryo, the herniated abdominal contents are enclosed in a membrane (yellow arrows) whereas in the suspected gastroschisis they appear exposed to the amniotic fluid.
Figure 3.
Coronal sections of in amnio mouse embryo MR images at E17.5.
(a) Normal and (b) known exomphalos embryos: the umbilical cord is visible connecting from the abdomen to the placenta. (c) and (d): Sections through the placenta of the normal and known exomphalos embryos, respectively, showing clearly the labyrinth blood vessels.
Table 1.
Summary of SNR and CNR measurements in regions of interest within the embryos (Norm values±SEM).
Figure 4.
Contrast-adjusted in amnio MR images of the normal and suspected gastroschisis embryos at E17.5.
(a) coronal, (b) axial and (c) sagittal sections through the suspected gastroschisis mouse embryo. Thin membranous structures (yellow arrows) can be seen extending outwards from the abdomen of the mouse embryo. (d), (e) and (f) show equivalent images of a normal embryo, where the abdominal contents are internalised and no emanating membranes can be observed.