Long lasting effects of intrauterine malnutrition on neurotransmitters metabolism in the brain of developing rats.

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was achieved by ligating the artery and vein supplying one uterine horn in pregnant rats on the 5th day before delivery. At birth, the weight of the whole body and of the forebrain (but not that of the brain stem of about half of offspring) were significantly lower than those of normal controls. This deficit persisted for at least the first 3 postnatal weeks. During the immediate period following birth, the concentrations of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were significantly higher in IUGR rats than in controls. Increased levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA were still observed in the forebrain and brain stem of 15-day-old IUGR rats and were associated with parallel increases in brain and serum free tryptophan levels. These results indicate that a transient insult in the fetal life could result in long-lasting alterations in 5-HT metabolism in the CNS of developing rats.