Aminiotic fluid and intrauterine growth restriction in a gastroschisis fetal rat model.
Fetuses with digestive anomalies such as gastroschisis may present intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and shortened intestines.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the influence caused by amniotic fluid (AF) in intestinal length and somatic growth in an experimental gastroschisis fetal model at two distinct gestational ages.


METHODS
Fetal rats were operated according to Correia-Pinto on 2 different days of gestation: day 18.5 (group I) and day 19.5 (group II). Each group was divided into three sub-groups: fetuses with gastroschisis (G), control (C) and sham(S). Body measurements and histological analysis were done.


RESULTS
Body measurement analysis showed: average body weight (g) in group I was G = 5.32, C = 5.68, S = 5.86; group II was G = 5.32, C = 5.80, S = 5.66. Average intestine weight (g) in group I was G = 0.283, C = 0.238, S = 0.231; group II was G = 0.272, C = 0.231, S = 0.233. Average intestine length (mm) in group I was G = 125, C = 216, S = 209; group II was G = 148, C = 226, S = 226. Histological analysis showed a decrease in the number and size of the intestinal microvillae and a light edema of serosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastroschisis had a direct correlation with IUGR and the time of exposure of the fetuses to AF had no influence on body weight in gastroschisis fetuses but did interfere with intestinal length.
Franchi-Teixeira
Antonio Roberto
AR
State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil.
Weber Guimarães Barreto
Maria
M
Nogueira
Barbara
B
Bittencourt
Daniel
D
Violin
Luis
L
Sbragia
Lourenço
L
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000502:physiology; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D007422:Intestines / Q000254:growth & development*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats