Maternal hypoxia during pregnancy delays the development of motor reflexes in newborn mice.

Prenatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is believed to cause permanent neurological deficits in newborns. We investigated the possibility that maternal hypoxia during pregnancy leads to offspring brain damage and its prevention by i.p. administration of MgSO4. Pregnant mice at gestation day 17 were exposed to hypoxia or air following pretreatment with saline or Mg. Newborn mice to mothers exposed to hypoxia demonstrated faster development of morphogenic parameters such as eyelid opening, hair growth and teeth eruption. In addition, hypoxia delayed the development of motor reflexes. Pretreatment with Mg compensates for hypoxia-induced impairment and in some cases accelerates the development of these functions. In conclusion, maternal hypoxia significantly modifies the developmental process of newborn mice. In our study, pretreatment with Mg showed significant prophylactic action against motor impairments. 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.