Fetal brain injury following prolonged hypoxemia and placental insufficiency: A review

Abstract

It is well-established that severe, acute episodes of hypoxemia can damage the brain before birth, but the effects of more sustained hypoxemia are less well understood. We have used fetal sheep in a series of studies aimed at determining the effects of prolonged hypoxemia, induced by placental insufficiency of differing severity and duration, on fetal brain structure. Restriction of placental, and hence fetal, growth by carunclectomy caused impaired development of neural processes and connections in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and visual cortex; neuronal migration and neuronal numbers did not appear to be affected. Twenty days of placental insufficiency during late gestation induced by umbi..