Vasculogenesis and Angiogenesis in the First Trimester Human Placenta: An Innovative 3D Study Using an Immersive Virtual Reality System

van Oppenraaij, R.H.F.; Koning, A.H.J.; Lisman, B.A.; Boer, K.; van den Hoff, M.J.B.; van der Spek, P.J.; Steegers, E.A.P.; Exalto, N.

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2008.12.014

« Previous Next »Placenta
Volume 30, Issue 3 , Pages 220-222, March 2009

Vasculogenesis and Angiogenesis in the First Trimester Human Placenta: An Innovative 3D Study Using an Immersive Virtual Reality System

R.H.F. van Oppenraaij
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Erasmus Medical Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Room He-119, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 647 100 562.
A.H.J. Koning
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
B.A. Lisman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
K. Boer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
M.J.B. van den Hoff
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
P.J. van der Spek
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
E.A.P. Steegers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
N. Exalto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Accepted 30 December 2008. published online 02 February 2009.

Abstract

First trimester human villous vascularization is mainly studied by conventional two-dimensional (2D) microscopy. With this (2D) technique it is not possible to observe the spatial arrangement of the haemangioblastic cords and vessels, transition of cords into vessels and the transition of vasculogenesis to angiogenesis. The Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) allows for a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of images of early pregnancy villous vascularization. These 3D reconstructions, however, are normally analyzed on a 2D medium, lacking depth perception. We performed a descriptive morphologic study, using an immersive Virtual Reality system to utilize the full third dimension completely. This innovative 3D technique visualizes 3D datasets as enlarged 3D holograms and provided detailed insight in the spatial arrangement of first trimester villous vascularization, the beginning of lumen formation within various junctions of haemangioblastic cords between 5 and 7 weeks gestational age and in the gradual transition of vasculogenesis to angiogenesis. This innovative immersive Virtual Reality system enables new perspectives for vascular research and will be implemented for future investigation.

Keywords: Placenta vascularization, Vasculogenesis, Virtual Reality, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy