Rapid Postnatal Adaptation of Neurodevelopment in Pigs Born Late Preterm
Preterm birth interrupts intrauterine brain growth and maturation and may induce a delay in postnatal neurodevelopment. Such developmental delays can result from the reduced fetal age at birth, together with the clinical compli cations of preterm birth (e.g., hypoxia, ischemia, and inflammation). We hypothesized that late preterm birth, inducing only mild clinical complications, has minimal effects on brain-related outcomes such as motor function and behavior. Using the pig as a model for late preterm infants, piglets we re cesarean delivered preterm (90%, 106 days gestation) or at full term, reared by identical procedures, and euthanized for tissue collection at birth or after 11 days (e.g., term-corrected age for preterm pigs). Clinical variables and both structural and functional brain endpoints were assessed. Th e preterm pigs were slow to get on their feet, gained less weight (–30%), and had a higher cerebral hydration level and blood-to-cerebrospinal fluid permeability than the term pigs. At term-corrected age (11 days), the absolute weight of the brain and the weights of its regions were similar betwee n 11-day-old preterm and newborn term pigs, and both were lower than in 11-day-old term pigs. Postnatally, physical activity and movements in an open field were similar, except that preterm pigs showed a reduced normalized stride length and increased normalized maximum stride height. Perinatal brain growth is closely associated with advancing postconceptional age in ...
Source: Developmental Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research