Amb motiu del tancament d'estiu, la validació de documents es reprendrà a partir del 28 d'agost de 2026. Disculpeu les molèsties.
Con motivo del cierre de verano, la validación de documentos se reanudará a partir del 28 de agosto de 2026. Disculpad las molestias
Due to the summer closure, document validation will resume starting August 28, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Files

605853.pdf (2.52 MB)

Document type

Article

Version

Published version

Publication date

2012-02-08

Publication license

cc-by (c) Eixarch, E. et al., 2012
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/96041

Neonatal Neurobehavior and Diffusion MRI Changes in Brain Reorganization Due to Intrauterine Growth Restriction in a Rabbit Model

Journal Title

Authors

Director/Tutor

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Related resource

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0031497

Abstract

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects 5-10% of all newborns and is associated with a high risk of abnormal neurodevelopment. The timing and patterns of brain reorganization underlying IUGR are poorly documented. We developed a rabbit model of IUGR allowing neonatal neurobehavioral assessment and high resolution brain diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of the study was to describe the pattern and functional correlates of fetal brain reorganization induced by IUGR. Methodology/Principal Findings: IUGR was induced in 10 New Zealand fetal rabbits by ligation of 40-50% of uteroplacental vessels in one horn at 25 days of gestation. Ten contralateral horn fetuses were used as controls. Cesarean section was performed at 30 days (term 31 days). At postnatal day +1, neonates were assessed by validated neurobehavioral tests including evaluation of tone, spontaneous locomotion, reflex motor activity, motor responses to olfactory stimuli, and coordination of suck and swallow. Subsequently, brains were collected and fixed and MRI was performed using a high resolution acquisition scheme. Global and regional (manual delineation and voxel based analysis) diffusion tensor imaging parameters were analyzed. IUGR was associated with significantly poorer neurobehavioral performance in most domains. Voxel based analysis revealed fractional anisotropy (FA) differences in multiple brain regions of gray and white matter, including frontal, insular, occipital and temporal cortex, hippocampus, putamen, thalamus, claustrum, medial septal nucleus, anterior commissure, internal capsule, fimbria of hippocampus, medial lemniscus and olfactory tract. Regional FA changes were correlated with poorer outcome in neurobehavioral tests. Conclusions: IUGR is associated with a complex pattern of brain reorganization already at birth, which may open opportunities for early intervention. Diffusion MRI can offer suitable imaging biomarkers to characterize and monitor brain reorganization due to fetal diseases.

Subject

Retard del creixement intrauterí, Neurobiologia del desenvolupament, Ressonància magnètica nuclear, Neurofisiologia

Subject (English)

Fetal growth retardation, Developmental neurobiology, Nuclear magnetic resonance, Neurophysiology

Citation

Collections

Articles publicats en revistes (Fonaments Clínics)
Articles publicats en revistes (BCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center)

Citation

EIXARCH ROCA, Elisenda, et al. Neonatal Neurobehavior and Diffusion MRI Changes in Brain Reorganization Due to Intrauterine Growth Restriction in a Rabbit Model. PLoS One. 2012. Vol. 7, num. 2, pags. e31497. ISSN 1932-6203. [consulted: 11 of August of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/96041

Export metadata

JSON - METS

Share record