Publication
Title
Rapid postnatal adaptation of neurodevelopment in pigs born late preterm
Author
Abstract
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 complications 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 were 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. The 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 between 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 pigs, and late preterm birth is initially associated with impaired brain growth and physical activity. Postnatally, neuromuscular functions mature rapidly and become similar to those in term pigs, even before term-corrected age. Neuromuscular functions and behavior may show rapid postnatal adaptation to late preterm birth in both pigs and infants.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Developmental neuroscience. - Basel
Source (book)
11th Hershey Conference on Developmental Brain Injury, JUN 05-08, 2018, Asilomar, CA
Publication
Basel : Karger , 2019
ISSN
0378-5866
DOI
10.1159/000499127
Volume/pages
40 :5-6 (2019) , p. 586-600
ISI
000477586900017
Pubmed ID
31141813
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 10.09.2019
Last edited 02.01.2025
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