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