INTRODUCTION: Chronic reduction of oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus has been related to neurodevelopmental problems. Placental underperfusion induces a significant reduction in oxygen and nutrient delivery, whereas maternal undernutrition causes mainly nutrient deficiency. A comparison of the neurodevelopmental effects of both situations in pregnant rabbits was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The placental underperfusion model was induced after uteroplacental vessel ligation at 25 days of pregnancy. The undernutrition model was induced after a reduction of 70% of the basal maternal intake at 22 days of pregnancy. Neurobehavioral tests were applied in the derived offspring at the neonatal period and over the long term. Structural brain differences were evaluated by brain networks obtained from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Birth weight was significantly lower in both cases. However, stillbirth was only increased in the placental underperfusion model. Cases from both models presented poorer neurobehavioral performance and network infrastructure, being more pronounced in the placental underperfusion model. DISCUSSION: Prenatal insults during the last third of gestation resulted in functional and structural disturbances. The degree of neurodevelopmental impairment and its association with structural brain reorganization seemed to be related to the type of the prenatal insult, showing stronger effects in the placental underperfusion model.
INTRODUCTION: Chronic reduction of oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus has been related to neurodevelopmental problems. Placental underperfusion induces a significant reduction in oxygen and nutrient delivery, whereas maternal undernutrition causes mainly nutrient deficiency. A comparison of the neurodevelopmental effects of both situations in pregnant rabbits was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The placental underperfusion model was induced after uteroplacental vessel ligation at 25 days of pregnancy. The undernutrition model was induced after a reduction of 70% of the basal maternal intake at 22 days of pregnancy. Neurobehavioral tests were applied in the derived offspring at the neonatal period and over the long term. Structural brain differences were evaluated by brain networks obtained from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Birth weight was significantly lower in both cases. However, stillbirth was only increased in the placental underperfusion model. Cases from both models presented poorer neurobehavioral performance and network infrastructure, being more pronounced in the placental underperfusion model. DISCUSSION: Prenatal insults during the last third of gestation resulted in functional and structural disturbances. The degree of neurodevelopmental impairment and its association with structural brain reorganization seemed to be related to the type of the prenatal insult, showing stronger effects in the placental underperfusion model.
Authors: Philippe Grandjean; Latifa Abdennebi-Najar; Robert Barouki; Carl F Cranor; Ruth A Etzel; David Gee; Jerrold J Heindel; Karin S Hougaard; Patricia Hunt; Tim S Nawrot; Gail S Prins; Beate Ritz; Morando Soffritti; Jordi Sunyer; Pal Weihe Journal: Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol Date: 2018-12-10 Impact factor: 4.080
Authors: Laura Pla; Britta Anna Kühne; Laia Guardia-Escote; Paula Vázquez-Aristizabal; Carla Loreiro; Burkhard Flick; Eduard Gratacós; Marta Barenys; Miriam Illa Journal: Front Toxicol Date: 2022-07-22
Authors: Johannes van der Merwe; Lennart van der Veeken; Sebastiano Ferraris; Willy Gsell; Uwe Himmelreich; Jaan Toelen; Sebastien Ourselin; Andrew Melbourne; Tom Vercauteren; Jan Deprest Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2019-03-05 Impact factor: 4.379