Intrauterine growth restriction affects the maturation of myelin

Abstract

Intrauterine growth-restriction (IUGR) can lead to adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae in postnatal life. Our objective was to determine whether IUGR, induced by chronic placental insufficiency (CPI) in the guinea pig results in long-term deficits in brain myelination and could therefore contribute to altered neural function. CPI was induced by unilateral ligation of the uterine artery at mid-gestation (term. ~. 67. days of gestation; dg), producing growth-restricted (GR) foetuses (60. dg), neonates (1. week) and young adults (8. week); controls were from the unligated horn or sham-operated animals. In GR foetuses (n = 8) and neonates (n = 7), white matter (WM) volume was reduced (p < 0.05);..