Impact of asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction on organ function in newborn piglets

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 110; pp. S40 - S49
• Main Authors: Bauer, Reinhard, Walter, Bernd, Brust, Peter, Füchtner, Frank, Zwiener, Ulrich
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 22.09.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn - physiology; Asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - blood supply; Brain - physiopathology; Brain dopamine metabolism; Cerebrovascular autoregulation; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Dopamine - physiology; Fetal Growth Retardation - complications; Fetal Growth Retardation - pathology; Fetal Growth Retardation - physiopathology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Kidney - pathology; Kidney - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Newborn period; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Renal structure and function; Skeletal muscle development; Swine; Newborn period; Renal structure and function; Skeletal muscle development; Brain dopamine metabolism; Cerebrovascular autoregulation; Asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction; Animal model; Intrauterine growth retardation; Pregnancy disorders; Kidney; Encephalon; Dopaminergic transmission; Fetal diseases; Arterial pressure; Ungulata; Human; Dopamine; Pathophysiology; Pig; Musculoskeletal system; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Newborn; Animal; Artiodactyla
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-2115(03)00171-4

Fetal malnutrition may induce asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (aIUGR) with long-lasting consequences. Understanding the organ-specific structural and functional effects aIUGR may have on the newborn, and understanding the potential impact on the neonatal response to compromising conditions, appears to be essential for adequate treatment. Therefore, a survey is given of some organ-specific alterations in newborns, which have suffered from aIUGR. We studied these effects in a model of asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction based on the spontaneous occurrence of runting in pigs. We wish to demonstrate that experimental studies in animal models are necessary and helpful to elucidate pathogenetic mechanisms. aIUGR seems to have both beneficial and detrimental effects on the newborn. The development of skeletal muscles (conversion to oxidative type I fibers) and of their vascular supply as well as of the brain dopaminergic activity is accelerated. Also, aIUGR apparently improves the ability to withstand critical periods of gradual oxygen deficit as shown by the maintenance of renal blood flow during severe systemic hypoxia, and by improved cerebrovascular autoregulation in hemorrhagic hypotension. On the other hand, aIUGR leads to the reduction of the number of nephrons and to impaired renal excretory functions with arterial hypertension and chronic renal failure.