Histomorphometric Study of the Tunics of Ductus Arteriosus in Human Fetal Cadavers Using the ImageJ Software.

Introduction: The ductus arteriosus (DA) connects the left pulmonary artery with the aorta during fetal life. Although it connects two elastic arteries, histological studies have shown that it is a muscular artery. There are very few studies on the histomorphometry of human fetal cadaveric DA. There are few studies on the changes in the tunics of the DA at various stages of fetal development. The present study aimed to observe the histomorphometric features of DA and its histological variations according to the gestational age of the fetus.

Methods: The study sample was DA dissected from 34 fetal cadavers of different gestational ages and stained with standard hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E). We studied the structure of DA under a light microscope. We used ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland) to measure the thickness of all three layers of the DA wall.

Results: The thickness of the DA wall was directly proportional to the gestational age of the fetus. In each trimester, we observed distinct histological changes in the tunics.

Conclusion: The formation of multiple intimal mounds and the increase in intimal thickness observed during the last trimester are responsible for the closure of the ductus after birth. Elastosis is associated with patent DA. The disappearance of elastosis at a later gestational age ensures the closure of the ductus.