Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with abnormal neurodevelopment, but the associated structural brain changes are poorly documented. The aim of this study was to describe in an animal model the brain changes at the cellular level in the gray and white matter induced by IUGR during the neonatal period. Methods: The IUGR model was surgically induced in pregnant rabbits by ligating 40–50% of the uteroplacental vessels in 1 horn, whereas the uteroplacental vessels of the contralateral horn were not ligated. After 5 days, IUGR animals from the ligated horn and controls from the nonligated were delivered. On the day of delivery, perinatal data and placentas were collected. On postnatal day 1, functional changes were first evaluated, and thereafter, neuronal arborization in the frontal cortex and density of pre-oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and microglia in the corpus callosum were evaluated. Results: Higher stillbirth in IUGR fetuses together with a reduced birth weight as compared to controls was evidenced. IUGR animals showed poorer functional results, an altered neuronal arborization pattern, and a decrease in the pre-oligodendrocytes, with no differences in microglia and astrocyte densities. Conclusions: Overall, in the rabbit model used, IUGR is related to functional and brain changes evidenced already at birth, including changes in the neuronal arborization and abnormal oligodendrocyte maturation.
Dev Neurosci

中文翻译：

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宫内生长受限的兔子模型在新生儿期间的结构性脑变化

背景：宫内生长受限（IUGR）与异常的神经发育有关，但相关的脑结构变化的文献报道很少。这项研究的目的是在动物模型中描述新生儿期IUGR诱导的大脑中灰白质细胞水平的变化。方法：通过结扎1个角的40-50％的子宫胎盘血管，通过手术诱导妊娠兔的IUGR模型，而未结扎对侧角的子宫胎盘血管。5天后，将来自结扎牛角的IUGR动物和未结扎牛的对照动物进行递送。在分娩当天，收集了围产期数据和胎盘。在出生后第1天，首先评估功能变化，然后评估额叶皮层中的神经元乔化和call体中前少突胶质细胞，星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞的密度。结果：与对照组相比，IUGR胎儿的死产更高，出生体重减轻。IUGR动物表现出较差的功能结果，神经元树突模式改变，少突胶质前体细胞减少，小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞密度无差异。结论：总的来说，在所用的兔子模型中，IUGR与出生时已证实的功能和脑部变化有关，包括神经元树突的变化和少突胶质细胞成熟的变化。
开发神经科学