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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Non-invasive Optical Measurement of Cerebral Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Infants
Published on: March 14, 2013
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for fetal oxygenation during maternal hypoxia: initial results
U Wedegärtner1, M Tchirikov, M Koch
1Abteilung für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie, UKE Hamburg, Germany.
Purpose:
To investigate the potential of fMRI to measure changes in fetal tissue oxygenation during acute maternal hypoxia in fetal lambs.
Material And Methods:
Two ewes carrying singleton fetuses (gestational age 125 and 131 days) underwent MR imaging under inhalation anesthesia. BOLD imaging of the fetal brain, liver and myocardium was performed during acute maternal hypoxia (oxygen replaced by N 2 O). Maternal oxygen saturation and heart rate were monitored by a pulse-oxymeter attached to the maternal tongue.
Results:
Changes of fetal tissue oxygenation during maternal hypoxia were clearly visible with BOLD MRI. Signal intensity decreases were more distinct in liver and heart ( approximately 40 %) from control than in the fetal brain ( approximately 10 %).
Conclusions:
fMRI is a promising diagnostic tool to determine fetal tissue oxygenation and may open new opportunities in monitoring fetal well being in high risk pregnancies complicated by uteroplacentar insufficiency. Different signal changes in liver/heart and brain may reflect a centralization of the fetal blood flow.
