Relation between damage to the placenta and the fetal brain after late-gestation placental embolization and fetal growth restriction in sheep

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the effects of 30 days of placental insufficiency on fetal brain development and to relate placental damage to the degree of fetal brain injury. STUDY DESIGN: Umbilicoplacental embolization was induced from 110 to 140 days of gestation (term, 147 days) in 7 fetal sheep, such that fetal arterial oxygen saturation was maintained at 50% of pre-umbilicoplacental embolization values. Six control fetuses were used. At 140 days the fetal brains and placentas were subjected to structural and histochemical analysis. RESULTS: During umbilicoplacental embolization, fetal arterial oxygen saturation, PaO(2), and pH were reduced (P <.05). Thirty days of umbilicoplacenta..